# NTSB NYC96LA183: Piper PA-28-140, N1792T, Closter, NJ, September 9, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 9, 1996, 18:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Closter, NJ - Location: 40.9729° N, 73.9603° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Closter, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9729&lon=-73.9603&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 23, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39240 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39240/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA183 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a power loss due to fuel exhaustion, followed by the airplane striking a tree during a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot had been airborne for 4 hours, 20 minutes, on an aerial observation flight, in a Piper PA-28-140, and was returning to his departure airport, when the engine lost power. He switched fuel tanks, but was unable to get the engine running again. He made a forced landing on a golf course. During the ground roll, the left wing struck a tree, which ruptured the fuel tank and bent the wing backwards. Examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing fuel tank was empty, and there was no evidence of a fuel spill from the ruptured left wing fuel tank. The pilot reported that he had departed with 36 gallons onboard and planned on a fuel burn of 7 gallons per hour. ## Factual narrative On September 9, 1996, about 1815 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N1792T, operated by Multi Air Service Inc. for Shadow Traffic, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Closter, New Jersey. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local aerial observation flight which departed from the Essex County Airport, Caldwell, New Jersey, about 1400, and was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Accident report, the pilot stated: "...I planned a flight to do traffic patrol, the flight was planned and conducted at 1500 [feet] MSL at 2100 RPM. According to the performance charts, that would give me a fuel burn of 5.6 gph. To be more conservative and at the advice of the aircraft owner, I normally use 7 GPH fuel burn for this type of flight. There was over 36 gallons of fuel on board because both tanks were over the tabs. This provided me with over 5 hrs. 10 minutes fuel on board. I took off at 2:00 PM. At approximately 6:15 - 6:30 PM I experienced engine trouble. On the way back to the airport, the engine cut off and I couldn't restart it. After switching tanks and attempting a restart the engine started then stopped again. I called Teterboro tower and told them I was doing a precautionary landing at a golf course about 7 miles from Teterboro. At the end of the landing roll the aircraft was damaged. There were no injuries." The FAA examined the aircraft at the accident site and reported that the left tank was ruptured with no evidence of a fuel spill. The right tank was intact and empty. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1792T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1792T-1998-08-17), registration cancelled 1998-08-17, S/N 287125132 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7125132 - Airframe hours: 10178 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Registered owner: Multi Air Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1996, 532 hours before - Departed: CDW, CALDWELL, NJ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 700 total, 100 in this make and model, 550 as pilot in command, 133 in the last 90 days, 89 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TEB, 7 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 19960909046669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960909046669A), Sep 9, 1996: Piper PA28140, Closter, NJ, Substantial damage. (3) Operating an aircraft with automobile fuel without an STC, (4) ran aircraft out of fuel, (9) 91.13 careless operation/91.103(a) preflt fuel requirements,… 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.