Piper PA-32-260 accident near Trenton, New Jersey, June 11, 1983
On June 11, 1983 at about 1:40 am local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N15SB, was destroyed in an accident near Trenton, New Jersey (Trenton-Robbinsville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 1983 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Trenton, New Jersey · Trenton-Robbinsville
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N15SB · registry record · serial 32-1283
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A RAILROAD BRIDGE OVERPASS DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE FLT DEPARTED NC FORNJ WITH AN ENROUTE STOP TO DROP OFF A PASSENGER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REFUEL AT THIS STOP AS PLANNED AND DEPARTED ANDOVERFLEW OTHER SIGHTED ARPTS BECAUSE HE COULD NOT MAKE CONTACT ON UNICOM. MCQUIRE APPROACH CONTROL GAVE THE PILOT THE VECTOR OF 288 DEGREES FOR THE TRENTON-ROBBINSVILLE ARPT.DURING THIS TIME THE RIGHT FUEL TANK RAN DRY AND THE PILOT SWITCHED TANKS TO CONTINUE FLT. WHEN TRENTON-ROBBINSVILLE COULD NOT BE RAISED ON UNICOM THE PILOT CONTINUED ON THE 288 DEGREE HEADING UNTIL FUEL EXHAUSTION. HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND WAS VECTORED TO 110 DEGREES FOR THE NEAREST ARPT. THEPILOT COULD NOT REACH THIS ARPT AND CRASHED ON A RAILROAD BRIDGE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A 4 LANE HIWAY. AN ON SCENE INVESTIGATION CONFIRMED THE STATE OF FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE ACFT DEPARTED WITH 50 GALLONS AND FLEW 4.1 HOURS. FUEL BURN IS12 GPH.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 291 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 2,179 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,768 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: A-36 Manahawkin NJ
- Destination: Toms River NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 am from TTN, 5 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.