# NTSB NYC97LA142: Piper PA-28-181, N84611, Jersey City, NJ, July 13, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 13, 1997, 11:05 local (15:05 UTC) - Place: Jersey City, NJ - Location: 40.7114° N, 74.0648° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Jersey City, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7114&lon=-74.0648&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39400 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39400/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA142 ## Probable cause The pilot's mismangement of the fuel supply, by which he failed to switched fuel tanks, which resulted in fuel starvation and the loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - starvation - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The pilot departed in a Piper PA-28-181 with full tanks. After flying for 2.2 hours, the engine lost power and the pilot ditched the airplane in the Hudson River. When interviewed he reported that he had not switched tanks. The FAA reported that after the airplane was recovered from the river, the right tank was full of fuel, and the left tank had about 5 gallons of water, and less than half a cup of fuel. The fuel selector was found set to the left tank. ## Factual narrative On July 13, 1997, about 1105 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N84611, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to the Hudson River, near Jersey City, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal transportation flight which originated from Teterboro, New Jersey, about 0900. No flight plan had been filed for the flight which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In an interview, the pilot reported that after departure from Teterboro, he flew south, and made a landing at Lakewood, New Jersey; however, he did not shut down the engine, and taxied back for departure. After takeoff from Lakewood, about 1000, he flew inland over New Jersey, and then north over the Hudson River, about 800-900 feet above the water. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot stated: "On my return flight to Teterboro Airport, in vicinity of Statue of Liberty, my engine started fluttering intermittently. Shortly after lost engine power completely. Immediately I started emergency procedures. Some hesitant restart occurred with pumping of throttle, all the while controlling the airplane by establishing appropriate glide speed. Notified Teterboro tower of my intention to ditch...." After recovery from the river, the airplane was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector from the Teterboro Flight Standards District Office. The FAA Inspector reported that the right tank was full of fuel, the left tank contained about 5 gallons of water and less than half a cup of fuel. The fuel selector was set to the left tank. The pilot reported that he visually checked that the fuel tanks were full at the time of departure. He had cruised at a power setting of between 2,400 and 2,500 RPM, with no leaning, and he had not changed the fuel selector during the flight. Records from the operator indicated the airplane had operated for 2.2 hours from time of departure, to power loss. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N84611](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N84611-1998-05-19), registration cancelled 1998-05-19, S/N 288290058 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8290058 - Airframe hours: 7417 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Million Air - Registered owner: Kenneth Forester Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 27, 1997, 30 hours before - Departed: N12, LAKEWOOD, NJ - Destination: TEB, TETERBORO, NJ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 498 total, 386 in this make and model, 384 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: EWR, 5 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 19970713047859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970713047859A), Jul 13, 1997: Piper PA28181, Jerseycity, NJ, Substantial damage. (-16) Pilot mismanaged the aircraft fuel system and allowed the selected tank to run out of fuel, causing the engine to stop functioning.[privacy data omitted] 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.