Piper PA-28-180 accident near Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, May 24, 1992
On May 24, 1992, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N55733, was substantially damaged in an accident near Saxonburg, Pennsylvania (Butler CO. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT MISMANAGED THE FUEL SUPPLY, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND THE LOST OF ENGINE POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 1992
- Place
- Saxonburg, Pennsylvania · Butler CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N55733 · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN THE PILOT NEARED THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, HE WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE IT. SUBSEQUENTLY THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN FIELD; THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE LANDING. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 5 MILES EAST OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE FLIGHT DURATION WAS ABOUT 3.5 HOURS. THE PILOT USED THE HOBBS METER TO TRACK TIME. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE HOBBS METER WAS OPERATING ABOUT 60% SLOWER THAN THE ACTUAL ELAPSED TIME. THE PILOT REPORTED HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS, FROM RIGHT TO LEFT, 1.1 HOURS OF HOBBS TIME (ESTIMATED 0.67% HOUR ACTUAL) INTO THE FLIGHT. THE EXAMINATION REVEALED VIRTUALLY NO FUEL IN THE FUEL LINES FORWARD OF THE FIREWALL. ABOUT TWO OUNCES OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE CARBURETOR. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE LEFT TANK. THERE WAS NO FUEL FOUND IN THE LEFT TANK; HOWEVER, THE FUEL LINES FROM THE TANK WERE SEVERED. EIGHTEEN GALLONS OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE RIGHT TANK. THE ENGINE OPERATED SATISFACTORY DURING A TEST RUN.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 126 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 25 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mcguire Afb Aero Club
The flight
- Departed from: WRI Mcguire Afb NJ at 8:57 pm
- Destination: BTP Butler PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 pm from BTP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.