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NTSB Report
April 8, 1988 · Piper PA-31-325 · N59845
West Seneca, NY
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 8, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
West Seneca, NY
Aircraft
Piper PA-31-325
Tail Number
N59845
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC88LA121
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED BUFFALO UNDER IFR CONDITIONS TO JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK. SEVERAL APPROACHES WERE MADE TO LAND BUT DUE TO THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PILOT ELECTED TO RETURN TO BUFFALO STILL UNDER IFR. DURING INITIAL CONTACT WITH CONTROL TOWER, THE PILOT ADVISED THEM THAT HE WAS LOW ON FUEL AND REQUESTED DIRECT FLIGHT TO BUFFALO. ABOUT 5 MILES SSW OF BUFFALO BOTH ENGINES QUIT AND THE PILOT ADVISED THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT. AT THIS TIME THE FLIGHT WAS ISSUED EMERGENCY VECTOR TO BUFFALO, BUT THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ADJACENT TO ROUTE 400 IN WEST SENECA, NEW YORK.
NTSB Probable Cause
LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS ADVERSED WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Full Narrative
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED BUFFALO UNDER IFR CONDITIONS TO JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK. SEVERAL APPROACHES WERE MADE TO LAND BUT DUE TO THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PILOT ELECTED TO RETURN TO BUFFALO STILL UNDER IFR. DURING INITIAL CONTACT WITH CONTROL TOWER, THE PILOT ADVISED THEM THAT HE WAS LOW ON FUEL AND REQUESTED DIRECT FLIGHT TO BUFFALO. ABOUT 5 MILES SSW OF BUFFALO BOTH ENGINES QUIT AND THE PILOT ADVISED THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT. AT THIS TIME THE FLIGHT WAS ISSUED EMERGENCY VECTOR TO BUFFALO, BUT THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ADJACENT TO ROUTE 400 IN WEST SENECA, NEW YORK.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time02:30 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-31-325
Tail NumberN59845
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIO-540-F28D · Reciprocating · 325
Seats8
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 47 · First Class
Conditions
ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO