Piper PA-28-140 accident near Aurora, North Carolina, August 19, 1987
On August 19, 1987 at about 2:30 am local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N5561U, was destroyed in an accident near Aurora, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 1987 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Aurora, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N5561U · registry record · serial 26285
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DITCHED THE AIRCRAFT AFTER RUNNING OUT OF FUEL WHILE EN ROUTE TO BAYBORO,NC. THE FLIGHT HAD DEPARTED EARLIER IN THE DAY AND HAD FLOWN TO MELFA,VA. THE PILOT DID NOT FUEL THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE STARTING THE FLIGHT AND OVER FLEW SEVERAL POSSIBLE REFUELING LOCATIONS. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED BAYBORO,NC WITH LESS THAN 36 GALLONS OF FUEL, AND THE PILOT HAD FLOWN 3.8 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FILE A FLIGHT PLAN RESULTED IN THE SEARCH FOR THE DOWNED AIRCRAFT BEING DELAYED SEVERAL HOURS. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF THE PILOT MAKING A MAYDAY CALL NOR DID HE TRANSMIT 7700 ON THE TRANSPONDER. THE TWO PASSENGERS WERE RESCUED BY A FERRY BOAT ABOUT 13 HOURS AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 669 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,894 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 24, 1987; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Melfa VA
- Destination: Bayboro NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 220° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:20 am from EWN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.