Cessna 175 accident near Pemberton, New Jersey, May 25, 1998
On May 25, 1998 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 175, registered N6577E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pemberton, New Jersey. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate fuel consumption calculations and his improper in-flight decision to continue flying with an inadequate fuel supply.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 1998 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pemberton, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175 · all 175s on the register
- Registration
- N6577E · no longer on the register · serial 56077
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he added 20 gallons of fuel, prior to his departure, which brought the total fuel onboard between 45 and 48 gallons. He purchased this fuel at a local airport and transported it to his airplane at the lake, since no fueling services were available at Lake Hinkley. The pilot estimated the flight would take him about 2 1/2 hours to complete. About 2 hours after his departure, the engine lost power, and the pilot 'landed the airplane in a corn field, out of fuel.' He stated that he had no mechanical problems with the airplane, and that the fuel gages gradually decreased during the flight; however, he 'would not rely on the fuel gages in a forty year old airplane.' Examination of the airplane revealed that both fuel tanks were intact and empty. According to a representative of the engine's manufacturer, the fuel consumption for the model engine was 8 to 10 gallons per hour. The pilot reported 250 hours of total flight experience, 10 hours of which were in the make and model of the accident airplane.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Lake Hinkley NY at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 9N2 Essington PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:05 pm from WRI, 10 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.