Pitts S2B accident near Williamstown, New Jersey, April 27, 1994
On April 27, 1994 at about 6:24 pm local time, a Pitts S2B, registered N93AN, was substantially damaged in an accident near Williamstown, New Jersey (Cross Keys airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to accurately determine the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 1994 · about 6:24 pm local time
- Place
- Williamstown, New Jersey · Cross Keys
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitts S2B · all S2Bs on the register
- Registration
- N93AN · no longer on the register · serial 5283
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE INDICATED FUEL ON START UP WAS APPROXIMATELY 5/8 MAIN TANK (14 GALLONS). AFTER LEVELING OFF, HE CHECKED THE INSTRUMENTS AND NOTED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL WAS ABOUT 1/8TH FUEL (2.5 GALLONS). HE ELECTED TO LAND AT THE NEAREST AIRPORT, CROSS KEYS, NEW JERSEY, WHICH WAS 12 MILES TO THE EAST. THE AIRPLANE LOST TOTAL POWER ABOUT 2 MILES WEST OF CROSS KEYS. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY. ALSO, NO ANOMALIES WERE FOUND DURING THE INSPECTION. AN ENGINE TEST RUN WAS PERFORMED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE FAA, AND THE REPORT STATED, 'THIS ENGINE MET ALL NEW ENGINE TEST PARAMETERS, AS NO FAULT IN THE ENGINE COULD BE FOUND.'
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,870 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1,614 as pilot in command; 94 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 30 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 21, 1994; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-D4AS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ILG Wilmington DE at 7:10 pm
- Destination: 3N6 Old Bridge NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from MIV, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.