- Date
- November 11, 1990, 18:40 local (23:40 UTC)
- Place
- Saxton, PA
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N2972DPiper PA-28-161
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 30, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19901111049719A
- Case key
- 36840
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
An engine failure due to fuel starvation and the subsequent forced landing in unsuitable terrain. Factors related to the accident were the cfi's inadequate execution of emergency procedures.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The CFI and private rated student pilot filed an IFR flight plan and departed on an instructional cross country flight with an inoperative vacuum pump. While en route to the planned destination, the pilots encountered snow shower and diverted towards altoona, PA. Shortly thereafter, the engine began to surge and lose power. The CFI gained a momentary restoration of power with the carburetor heat applied; however, the engine lost power again and the airplane crashed in a densely wooded area at night. Post accident exam of the wreckage revealed the right fuel tank was empty and the left fuel tank was over 3/4 full. The fuel selector was found in the right tank position.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2972D
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-161
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-8016004
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D3G, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- B And F Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- AIY · Atlantic City, NJ
- Destination
- AGC · Pittsburgh, PA
- Flight plan
- IFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 24
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 469 total · 33 in this make and model · 323 as pilot in command · 79 in the last 90 days · 44 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 38 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 32 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.