Piper PA-28-140 accident near Rochester, New York, June 26, 2001
On June 26, 2001, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N5265T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rochester, New York (Rochester International airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Fuel exhaustion, due to the student pilot's failure to monitor his fuel supply.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2001
- Place
- Rochester, New York · Rochester International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N5265T · no longer on the register · serial 28-7225380
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot departed on a local flight, staying in the traffic pattern to practice landings. After two hours of flight, the engine lost power. The pilot made a forced landing to rising terrain, and the airplane struck a fence. The left fuel tank was ruptured, and there was a small fuel spill on the ground. The fuel selector was found selected to the right tank, which was intact, and contained 18 ounces of fuel. Records indicated that after the airplane was last refueled, it was flown on a local flight for 2.2 hours prior to the student pilot's accident flight. The student pilot also indicated that he was aware of the previous flight. The student pilot reported that when he preflighted the airplane, there was sufficient fuel onboard for 3 hours of flight. In addition, the student pilot also reported that he did not track his fuel quantity by looking at the fuel gauges. When power was applied to the airplane, both fuel gauges indicated empty tanks.
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: student
- Flight time: 76 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,816 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 2001; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bill Law Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: ROC Rochester NY at 10:45 pm
- Destination: ROC Rochester NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 4,403 ft by 140 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
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.