Piper PA-28-151 accident near Martinsburg, West Virginia, March 27, 1991
On March 27, 1991 at about 1:36 am local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N8738E, was destroyed in an accident near Martinsburg, West Virginia. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL EXHAUSTION WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 1991 · about 1:36 am local time
- Place
- Martinsburg, West Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N8738E · no longer on the register · serial 28 7615156
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS PURCHASED AT NORTHAMPTON AND IT WAS BEING FERRIED TO THE NEW HOME BASE AT PINE BLUFF, AR. THE PASSENGERS HELD PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATES. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 4 HOURS AFTER TAKEOFF, BASED ON THE HOBBSMETER AND TACHOMETER TIMES. THE PILOT STATED THAT AS HE NEARED MARTINSBURG, AN INTERMEDIATE STOP, THE FUEL PRESSURE GAGE BEGAN FLUCTUATING. HE TURNED ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP, BUT HE DOES NOT RECALL DETAILS OF THE FLIGHT AFTERWARDS. ONE OF THE PASSENGERS WAS SEATED IN THE LEFT FRONT SEAT, AND INDICATED THAT HE FLEW THE AIRPLANE MOST OF THE FLIGHT. HE REPORTED THAT THEY STOPPED EARLIER WHILE EN ROUTE AT ANOTHER AIRPORT, BUT THERE WERE NO SERVICES THERE, SO THE FLIGHT WAS RESUMED. HE SAID THAT MRB WAS IN SIGHT WHEN THE FUEL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. HE SAID THE PILOT TOOK CONTROL OF THE FLIGHT. ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE POWER WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY AND NO EVIDENCE OF A FUEL SPILL WAS NOTED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 847 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 190 in the last 90 days; 64 in the last 30 days; 763 as pilot in command; 335 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,035 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 8, 1990; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Martin Aircraft
The flight
- Departed from: 7B2 Northampton MA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: MRB Martinsburg WV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 am from MRB, 1 miles away
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.