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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

June 11, 1983 · Piper PA-32-260 · N15SB

Trenton, NJ

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 11, 1983
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (2 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Location
Trenton, NJ
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-260
Tail Number
N15SB
Operator
James P Maney
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC83FHD02

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A RAILROAD BRIDGE OVERPASS DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE FLT DEPARTED NC FORNJ WITH AN ENROUTE STOP TO DROP OFF A PASSENGER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REFUEL AT THIS STOP AS PLANNED AND DEPARTED ANDOVERFLEW OTHER SIGHTED ARPTS BECAUSE HE COULD NOT MAKE CONTACT ON UNICOM. MCQUIRE APPROACH CONTROL GAVE THE PILOT THE VECTOR OF 288 DEGREES FOR THE TRENTON-ROBBINSVILLE ARPT.DURING THIS TIME THE RIGHT FUEL TANK RAN DRY AND THE PILOT SWITCHED TANKS TO CONTINUE FLT. WHEN TRENTON-ROBBINSVILLE COULD NOT BE RAISED ON UNICOM THE PILOT CONTINUED ON THE 288 DEGREE HEADING UNTIL FUEL EXHAUSTION. HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND WAS VECTORED TO 110 DEGREES FOR THE NEAREST ARPT. THEPILOT COULD NOT REACH THIS ARPT AND CRASHED ON A RAILROAD BRIDGE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A 4 LANE HIWAY. AN ON SCENE INVESTIGATION CONFIRMED THE STATE OF FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE ACFT DEPARTED WITH 50 GALLONS AND FLEW 4.1 HOURS. FUEL BURN IS12 GPH.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A RAILROAD BRIDGE OVERPASS DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE FLT DEPARTED NC FORNJ WITH AN ENROUTE STOP TO DROP OFF A PASSENGER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REFUEL AT THIS STOP AS PLANNED AND DEPARTED ANDOVERFLEW OTHER SIGHTED ARPTS BECAUSE HE COULD NOT MAKE CONTACT ON UNICOM. MCQUIRE APPROACH CONTROL GAVE THE PILOT THE VECTOR OF 288 DEGREES FOR THE TRENTON-ROBBINSVILLE ARPT.DURING THIS TIME THE RIGHT FUEL TANK RAN DRY AND THE PILOT SWITCHED TANKS TO CONTINUE FLT. WHEN TRENTON-ROBBINSVILLE COULD NOT BE RAISED ON UNICOM THE PILOT CONTINUED ON THE 288 DEGREE HEADING UNTIL FUEL EXHAUSTION. HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND WAS VECTORED TO 110 DEGREES FOR THE NEAREST ARPT. THEPILOT COULD NOT REACH THIS ARPT AND CRASHED ON A RAILROAD BRIDGE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A 4 LANE HIWAY. AN ON SCENE INVESTIGATION CONFIRMED THE STATE OF FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE ACFT DEPARTED WITH 50 GALLONS AND FLEW 4.1 HOURS. FUEL BURN IS12 GPH.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:40 EDT
Nearest AirportTrenton-Robbinsville (4nm WNW)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32-260
Tail NumberN15SB
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorJames P Maney
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-E4B5 · Reciprocating · 260
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (2 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 34 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightBright Night
Wind140° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time01:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data