# NTSB NYC88LA121: Piper PA-31-325, N59845, West Seneca, NY, April 8, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 8, 1988, 02:30 local (06:30 UTC)
- Place: West Seneca, NY
- Coordinates: 42.83955, -78.749534 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8396&lon=-78.7495&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36130
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88LA121
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36130/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA121

## Probable cause

LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS ADVERSED WEATHER CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, approach
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - preflight planning/preparation - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

THE FLIGHT DEPARTED BUFFALO UNDER IFR CONDITIONS TO JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK. SEVERAL APPROACHES WERE MADE TO LAND BUT DUE TO THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PILOT ELECTED TO RETURN TO BUFFALO STILL UNDER IFR. DURING INITIAL CONTACT WITH CONTROL TOWER, THE PILOT ADVISED THEM THAT HE WAS LOW ON FUEL AND REQUESTED DIRECT FLIGHT TO BUFFALO. ABOUT 5 MILES SSW OF BUFFALO BOTH ENGINES QUIT AND THE PILOT ADVISED THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT. AT THIS TIME THE FLIGHT WAS ISSUED EMERGENCY VECTOR TO BUFFALO, BUT THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ADJACENT TO ROUTE 400 IN WEST SENECA, NEW YORK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N59845](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59845-2013-08-19), registration cancelled 2013-08-19, S/N 31-7612054, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-325
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-325](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-325) (registry code 7103105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-7612054
- Airframe hours: 2040
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-F28D 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lands Edge, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 1988, 65 hours before
- Departed: BUFFALO, NY
- Destination: JAMESTOWN, NY
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,050 total, 410 in this make and model, 3,030 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- 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 19880408022819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880408022819A), Apr 8, 1988: Piper PA31325, Buffalo, NY, Destroyed. Ran out of fuel on return to base after missed approaches at destination. Blamed leaky drains.

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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