Piper PA-25 accident near Warren, Vermont, September 2, 2001
On September 2, 2001 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-25, registered N7247Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warren, Vermont (Warren Sugerbush airport). It was an other work-use 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
The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 2001 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Warren, Vermont · Warren Sugerbush · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25 · all PA-25s on the register
- Registration
- N7247Z · no longer on the register · serial 25-3176
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the fuel gauge indicated about 1/4 tank full prior to the first of five glider tow flights. During the last flight, the pilot released the glider at 2,500 feet, about 2 1/2 miles from the takeoff airport. He then made a descending, 270-degree left turn. As he rolled the airplane out of the turn, the engine sputtered for a few seconds and stopped. It restarted and ran for a few seconds, then finally stopped. The pilot established the airplane in a 75-mph glide, and turned it directly towards the airport. He cycled the magneto switches, throttle, and mixture controls; however, the engine did not restart. The airplane touched down about 300 yards east of the runway and collided with a paddock fence. No fuel was found in the airplane after the accident.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,346 hours in all; 64 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,272 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 23, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,873 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 3, 2001; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0B7 Warren VT at 4:32 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from MVL, 25 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N7247Z the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.