# NTSB NYC89LA042: Piper PA-28-181, N2179Y, Chambersburg, PA, December 4, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 3, 1988, 23:15 local (Dec 4, 1988, 04:15 UTC)
- Place: Chambersburg, PA
- Coordinates: 40.699295, -79.159339 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6993&lon=-79.1593&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36344
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89LA042
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36344/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA042

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - object - sign (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - collapsed (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF THE PIPER PA-28 WAS AT CRUISE ALTITUDE AND GETTING ADVISORIES FROM ATC. ATC GAVE HIM A SIGMET FOR TURBULENCE WHEN HE NOTED HIS FUEL WAS GETTING LOW. HE DECIDED TO LAND AT A NEARBY AIRPORT AND WAS TOLD BY ATC THAT THE AIRPORT HE WANTED WAS AT HIS 12 O'CLOCK POSITION AND 8 MILES. RADAR SERVICE WAS THEN TERMINATED AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE PILOT COULD NOT FIND THE AIRPORT AND TRIED TO LAND ON A HIGHWAY. AS HE LINED UP WITH THE HIGHWAY TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK SOME TREES AND A ROAD SIGN. WHEN THE ACFT CONTACTED THE GROUND THE NOSE WHEEL COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE ACFT SLID 150-200 FT BEFORE STOPPING AGAINST A GUARD RAIL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2179Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2179Y-1989-10-23), registration cancelled 1989-10-23, S/N 287990382 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7990382
- Airframe hours: 2518
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: George Glomeau
- Registered owner: Marjac Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 2, 1988, 6 hours before
- Departed: ORD, NORWOOD, MA
- Destination: CHARLESTON, WV
- Airport: N68, Chambersburg

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 164 total, 3 in this make and model, 100 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 280° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19881203052399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881203052399A), Dec 3, 1988: Piper PA28181, Chambersburg, PA, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel at night just after overflying harrisburg airport. Struck a road sign and flipped over on a highway

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.