Piper PA28-151 accident near Aurora, Illinois, July 9, 1990
On July 9, 1990 at about 2:00 am local time, a Piper PA28-151, registered N33332, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aurora, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 1990 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Aurora, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-151 · all PA28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N33332 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7515310
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, PILOT EXPERIENCED TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE 12 MILES FROM FLIGHT PLANNED DESTINATION. ATC PROVIDED VECTOR TO NEAREST AIRFIELD, BUT PILOT LANDED IN SOFT FIELD 1.5 MILES FROM FIELD. AIRCRAFT SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. NO INJURIES TO PILOT OR HIS TWO PASSENGERS. INVESTIGATION REVEALED RIGHT FUEL TANK EMPTY. APPROXIMATELY 1.0 PINT OF FUEL DRAINED FROM LEFT TANK. PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD MADE THIS TRIP SEVERAL TIMES WITH AMOUNT OF FUEL HE HAD ON BOARD AT TAKEOFF.
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: 169 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 121 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,823 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 30, 1990; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,440 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CMH Columbus OH at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 am from ARR, 12 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.