# NTSB NYC95LA047: Grumman American AA-1A, N9457L, Lancaster, NY, December 27, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 26, 1994, 22:34 local (Dec 27, 1994, 03:34 UTC) - Place: Lancaster, NY - Coordinates: 42.900745, -78.659507 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9007&lon=-78.6595&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 21, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38914 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38914/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA047 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL TO RETURN TO THE HOME AIRPORT AFTER PROCEEDING TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT AND MAKING A MISSED APPROACH. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS (AT THE DESTINATION AND ALTERNATE AIRPORTS) AND DARKNESS IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - flight to destination alternate - performed, pilot in command - missed approach - performed, pilot in command - flight to new destination - performed, pilot in command - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis THE PILOT DEPARTED BUFFALO, NEW YORK (9G0) ABOUT 1900 EST, DESTINED FOR PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA (PIT). HE ENCOUNTERED TRAFFIC DELAYS AT PIT AND DECIDED TO GO TO HIS ALTERNATE, LATROBE, PENNSYLVANIA (LBE). THE PILOT MADE A MISSED APPROACH AT LBE DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS, THEN DECIDED TO RETURN TO 9G0. DURING THE APPROACH TO 9G0, THE ENGINE BEGAN LOSING POWER, SO THE PILOT DIVERTED TO THE LANCASTER AIRPORT (D77). ABOUT 2234 EST, BEFORE REACHING THE RUNWAY AT D77, TOTAL POWER WAS LOST AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY. ## Factual narrative On December 26, 1994 about 2234 eastern daylight time, N9457L, a Grumman American AA-1A airplane, a personal flight, lost engine power an was forced landed in an open field at Lancaster, New York. Visual meteorological conditions existed; an instrument flight plan was filed. The certificated commerical pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The departure point was Buffalo, New York. The destination was Lancaster, New York. The pilot departed Buffalo Airfield (9G0) bound for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Upon reaching the Pittsburgh area, the pilot encountered traffic delays, so he decided to go to his alternate destination, Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The pilot did a missed approach at Latrobe's Westmoreland County Airport because of weather conditions, so he headed back to Buffalo. During the approach to 9G0 the engine began losing power, so the pilot diverted the flight to nearby Lancaster County Airport (D77). However, total power loss occurred and the forced landing ensued in a field, about 100 feet short of D77. Examination of the airplane revealed the fuel tanks were empty. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9457L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9457L-1999-12-03), registration cancelled 1999-12-03, S/N AA1A-0257 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-1A - Registry model: [American AA-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1a) (registry code 0630710) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA-1A-0257 - Airframe hours: 4200 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Edward Oleksy - Registered owner: Edward P. Oleksy - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 11, 1994, 100 hours before - Departed: 9G0, BUFFALO, NY - Destination: PIT, PITTSBURGH, PA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: D77, Lancaster ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 3,900 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 180° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19941226042169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941226042169A), Dec 26, 1994: Gulstm AA1A, Lancaster, NY, Substantial damage. After several unsucessful tries to land due to traffic holding and missed approaches tried return base. Out of fuel 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.