# NTSB NYC87FA249: Piper PA-28-180, N15917, Riverhead, NY, September 11, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 11, 1987, 15:01 local (19:01 UTC)
- Place: Riverhead, NY
- Coordinates: 40.939361, -72.669799 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9394&lon=-72.6698&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30512
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87FA249
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30512/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87FA249

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

THE PIPER PA-28-180 EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION WHILE FLYING OVER THE LONG ISLAND SOUND. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH SHORE PRIOR TO DITCHING. THE DITCHING WAS SUCCESSFUL AND BOTH OCCUPANTS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT INJURIES. AFTER BEING IN THE WATER FOR A WHILE. THEY VOLUNTARILY SEPARATED AND ONE WAS EVENTUALLY PICKED UP AFTER BEING IN THE WATER 3 HOURS. THE OTHER OCCUPANT DROWNED AND WAS FOUND SEVERAL DAYS LATER. THE AIRCRAFT SANK AND WAS NOT RECOVERED. THE PILOT FAILED TO COMMUNICATE HIS SITUATION IN A TIMELY MANNER AND EVEN AFTER TELLING ATC THAT HE WAS LOW ON FUEL ACCEPTED A DESCENT WHICH REDUCED HIS GLIDING DISTANCE. IN ADDITION THERE WAS NO FLOTATION EQUIPMENT ON THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD PLANNED THE FLIGHT WITH A FUEL BURN OF 8-9 GPH. THE ACFT OWNER, WHO HAD PURCHASED THE ACFT 2 YRS PRIOR, STATED THAT HE ALWAYS FLT-PLANNED FOR 13 GPH WHEN FLYING CROSS-COUNTRY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15917](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15917-2015-05-05), registration cancelled 2015-05-05, S/N 28-7305184, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7302184
- Airframe hours: 3542
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Newair Flight, Inc., doing business as Charisma
- Registered owner: S.L.A.M., Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, September 8, 1987, 4 hours before
- Departed: B19, BIDDERFORD, ME
- Destination: HVN, NEW HAVEN, CT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CTO, Navy Calverton

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,210 total, 47 in this make and model, 1,110 as pilot in command, 171 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 900 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ISP, 25 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870911051549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870911051549A), Sep 11, 1987: Piper PA28180, Calverton, NY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Reported low fuel on vectors for IFR approach. Lost fuel pressure, engine quit. Ditched in ocean.

## Other investigations on N15917 (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW74FPM01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW74FPM01), Jul 25, 1973: Piper PA-28 (N15917), Stilwell, OK, substantial damage

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.