# NTSB NYC94LA103: Piper PA-24-250, N6375P, Monmouth Beach, NJ, July 1, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 30, 1994, 22:48 local (Jul 1, 1994, 02:48 UTC) - Place: Monmouth Beach, NJ - Location: 40.3359° N, 73.9856° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Monmouth Beach, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3359&lon=-73.9856&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 7, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38772 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38772/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA103 ## Probable cause A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION, FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE NIGHT CONDITIONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - water,rough ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS CRUISING AT 9500 FEET, AT NIGHT, WHEN HE EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS. HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH AN AIRPORT AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN THE SURF, NEXT TO THE BEACH. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BY THE FAA FOUND 5 TO 10 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK AND THE LEFT TANK EMPTY. ADDITIONALLY, THE FUEL LINE TO THE CARBURETOR WAS EMPTY AND THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS INTACT. FURTHER EXAMINATION FAILED TO FIND A REASON FOR THE LACK OF FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE. ## Factual narrative On June 30, 1994, at 2248 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA- 24-250, N6375P, piloted by Mr. Gerard L. Brown, of Coral Springs, Florida, landed in the surf, next to the beach, in Monmouth Beach, New Jersey, after the engine lost power. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated in Sebastian, Florida, with a fuel stop at North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The pilot was enroute to Farmingdale, New York, at 9500 feet, and receiving traffic advisories from the New York Approach Control (TRACON) when the power loss occurred. The TRACON attempted to vector the airplane toward the Allaire Airport, Farmingdale, New Jersey, however, the pilot said he could not reach the airport, and set up for an off airport landing. Post accident investigation by the FAA found fuel in the right tank, estimated to be approximately 5 to 10 gallons. No fuel was found in the left fuel tank, and the fuel line to the carburetor was empty. Additionally, the FAA reported the fuel system was intact with no breaks. Post accident examination of the airplane by Monmouth Aircraft Service, Inc, Farmingdale, New Jersey, failed to find any evidence of blockage in the fuel line between the tanks and the fuel selector valve. In addition, the fuel vent system was found to be :...clear and normal...." No foreign objects were found inside the right hand fuel tank. The airplane was equipped with two wing tanks. Each tank had a capacity of 30 gallons. The pilot indicated the fuel burn on the first leg was 15 gallons per hour, and on the second leg was 12 - 13 gallons per hours. The FAA reported his departure time from Grand Strand Airport as 1935. According to radar data from the New York TRACON, the airplane initiated a descent from 9500 between 2233:58 and 2236:00. The last recorded altitude was 200 feet at 2247:50. Records indicated that the airplane was refueled with 38.5 gallons at Grand Stand Airport. The refueler who was a flight instructor reported that 90 percent of the fuel went into the left tank and both tanks were full. Additionally, he reported the pilot said he had a power loss while selected to the right tank and inbound to Grand Strand Airport. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6375P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6375P-2013-11-18), registration cancelled 2013-11-18, S/N 24-1485, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1485 - Airframe hours: 6463 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Aero Trace Inc. - Registered owner: Aero Trace Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 21, 1994, 12 hours before - Departed: CRE, N. MYRTLE BEACH, SC - Destination: FRG, FARMINGDALE, NY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total, 60 in this make and model, 7,900 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 220° at 5 knots - Visibility: 11 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 13,000 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: JFK, 21 nm away ## 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 19940630017179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940630017179A), Jun 30, 1994: Piper PA24250, Monmouth Beach, NJ, Destroyed. Power loss at night cruise. Landed in surf on a Beach. Fuel in right tank none in left. Fuel line empty. 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.