# NTSB NYC95LA171: Piper PA-22-150, N1613P, Avoca, PA, July 23, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 23, 1995, 13:25 local (17:25 UTC) - Place: Avoca, PA - Coordinates: 41.340747, -75.719894 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3407&lon=-75.7199&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39012 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39012/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA171 ## Probable cause the pilot's poor inflight decision and improper fuel management resulting in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent forced landing over rocky terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause) - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - rock(s)/boulder(s) ## Analysis APPROACH CONTROL ASKED THE PILOT HOW MUCH FUEL REMAINED, AND THE PILOT REPLIED THAT THERE WAS NO RESERVE FUEL. THE CONTROLLER ADVISED THE PILOT OF AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT CLOSER THAN THE PLANNED DESTINATION. THE PILOT ELECTED TO PROCEED TO THE PLANNED DESTINATION. DURING THE APPROACH, ABOUT TWO MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER AND THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING IN A STONE QUARRY. THE FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE INSPECTED AND ABOUT ONE QUART OF FUEL WAS FOUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS, AND 'FORCED LANDING RESULTED FROM WEATHER RELATED FUEL EXHAUSTION AT END OF CROSS COUNTRY TRIP. CLOSER ATTENTION TO HEAD WINDS AND ALTERNATE AIRPORTS COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE ACCIDENT.' ## Factual narrative On July 23, 1995, at 1325 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA- 22-150, N1613P, was substantially damaged when the engine lost total power and a forced landing was performed in Avoca, Pennsylvania. The private pilot was not injured. The flight originated at Plattsburg, New York, at 0925, destined for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and there was an instrument flight plan for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB 6120.1/2, the pilot stated: ...Altitude was 7000 feet....During this interval, I was asked by approach for my exact fuel situation....Approach was so advised, with emphasis that there really was no further reserve fuel. I was offered an alternate airport as an option (Seamans, 9N3)....I did not accept the alternate. It was a closer airport and would have taken a shorter time, however, I was much more familiar with the terrain around the approach to Wilkes-Barre and was already planning my direction of flight should an emergency develop....I elected inbound to [Wilkes-Barre] and asked for a gradual decent from 7000 feet. The controller...said that he would keep me up high for as long as possible....I got to 2500 feet and 2 miles from touchdown....During final clearance to minimum decent altitude the engine lost all power.... Additionally, the pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions, and "[the] forced landing resulted from weather related fuel exhaustion at [the] end of [the] cross country trip. Closer attention to head winds and alternate airports could have prevented the accident." The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector stated: ...The pilot reported he ran out of fuel short of the runway. He made an emergency landing in a stone quarry doing damage to the [left] wing, [left] gear leg, nose gear, and propeller. The fuel tanks were inspected for fuel...by a mechanic...at the accident scene. The mechanic reported about one quart of fuel was found.... ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1613P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1613P-1998-04-29), registration cancelled 1998-04-29, S/N 222427 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-2427 - Airframe hours: 3025 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A1A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Improcet, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 1995, 30 hours before - Departed: PLB, PLATTSBURG, NY - Destination: AVP, PA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: AVP, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Int ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 904 total, 55 in this make and model, 786 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 28.00 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 19950723019279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950723019279A), Jul 23, 1995: Piper PA22150, Wilkes Barre Sc, PA, Substantial damage. Low on fuel. Got vectors to nearby field but elected for airport. Lost power on approach. No fuel. Landed in quarry ## Other investigations on N1613P (1) 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. - [NTSB ATL85LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85LA102), Feb 21, 1985: Piper PA-22-150 (N1613P), Lawrenceville, GA, substantial damage 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.