# NTSB NYC88LA004: Piper PA-28-161, N8391A, Weston, MA, October 10, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 9, 1987, 20:10 local (Oct 10, 1987, 00:10 UTC)
- Place: Weston, MA
- Location: 42.3668° N, 71.3031° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Weston, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3668&lon=-71.3031&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 7, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36029
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88LA004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36029/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA004

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - false indication (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DRG A NIGHT ARRIVAL, WHEN THE ACFT WAS APCHG THE BOSTON TCA, THE PLT DSCNDD TO 1000 FT. AS HE WAS LEVELING OFF, HE NOTED A POWER LOSS & WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE DESTN ARPT. HE IDENTIFIED A FIELD & INITIATED AN EMERG LANDING. DRG THE APCH, THE ACFT STRUCK POWER LINES, THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE PLT RPRTD A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE & TOLD AUTHORITIES HE BELIEVED THE ACFT RAN OUT OF FUEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8391A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8391A-1991-05-16), registration cancelled 1991-05-16, S/N 288116231 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8116231
- Airframe hours: 1990
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Rodney S. Goreham
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 21, 1987, 17 hours before
- Departed: TETERBORO, NJ
- Destination: BEVERLY, MA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 894 total, 426 in this make and model, 734 as pilot in command, 410 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19871009082989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871009082989A), Oct 9, 1987: Piper PA28161, Weston, MA, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel en route. Struck powerlines and crashed trying to land in a open field.

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.

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