# NTSB NYC89LA057: Piper PA-44-180T, N91PA, Princeton, NJ, December 24, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 24, 1988, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Princeton, NJ
- Location: 40.3582° N, 74.6667° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Princeton, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3582&lon=-74.6667&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36357
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89LA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36357/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA057

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - holding(ifr)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER OF BOTH ENGINES AND CRASHED INTO TREES NEAR PRINCETON AIRPORT, PRINCETON, NJ. THE PILOT FLEW 4.5 HRS AND AFTER A MISSED APPROACH ONE ENGINE QUIT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE PRINCETON AIRPORT THE OTHER ENGINE QUIT. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER OF THE ACFT, 4.5 HRS WOULD USE ALL BUT RESERVE FUEL AT OPTIMUM CRUISE AT 16,000 FT. CRUISE AT LOWER ALT OR AT HIGHER POWER WOULD USE MORE FUEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N91PA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91PA-2009-04-23), registration cancelled 2009-04-23, S/N 8207013 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-44-180T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180t) (registry code 7104404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 44-8207013
- Engines: LYCOMING TO-360-E1A6D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Fit Aviation
- Registered owner: 1st Security Bank
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: SAV, SAVANNAH, GA
- Destination: 47N, MANVILLE, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 917 total, 41 in this make and model, 826 as pilot in command, 223 in the last 90 days, 61 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Day

## 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 19881224056459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881224056459A), Dec 24, 1988: Piper PA44180, Princeton/Rocky, NJ, Destroyed. Lost power both engines. Struck trees trying to make 39N after missed approach. Aloft approximate fuel range.

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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