Piper PA-28 accident near Dingman, Pennsylvania, May 18, 2009
On May 18, 2009 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N4130W, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Dingman, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power in flight due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel planning.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 2009 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Dingman, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 181 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N4130W · no longer on the register · serial 2843204
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was flying back to his home airport when the "engine sounded like it was out of fuel," and the "propeller just stopped." The pilot then began performing the emergency checklist, switching fuel tanks, and looking for a place to land. The only suitable forced landing area was beyond glide range, and the airplane impacted trees just short of the pilot’s intended touchdown point. The airplane came to rest upright in the tops of the trees, substantially damaging the wing spar. The pilot reported that "there was no abnormal sound" from the engine prior to stopping. After the airplane was recovered from the tree tops, approximately 6 ounces of fuel was drained from the engine, and the Federal Aviation Administration inspector on scene found both fuel tanks empty. No other anomalies with either the engine or airframe were identified.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel exhaustion during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during enroute (cruise)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 871 hours in all; 775 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 871 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 19, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,140 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 12, 2009; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NK68 Hancock NY at 8:45 pm
- Destination: SMQ Somerville NJ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 pm from AVP, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.