Cessna 33TC accident near Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania, November 14, 1986
On November 14, 1986 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 33TC, registered N2581S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania (Phillipsburg/Mid-State airport). 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 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
- November 14, 1986 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania · Phillipsburg/Mid-State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 33TC
- Registration
- N2581S · registry record · serial 337-0881
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA 337 EXPERIENCED ENGINE SURGING AND PLT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT AN AIRPORT WHILE ENROUTE TO DESTINATION. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED 200 FT SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AND RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHILE THE TWO OCCUPANTS WERE NOT INJURED. ON SCENE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT FOUND FUEL IN THE AUXILIARY TANKS. WHEN THE PILOT WAS INTERVIEWED, IT WAS LEARNED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE FUEL SELECTORS ON THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT THOUGHT HE WAS SELECTING THE AUXILIARY TANK WHEN IN FACT HE WAS SWITCHING FROM ONE MAIN TANK TO ANOTHER.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 18,750 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Orange State MD
- Destination: 8G5 St. Marys PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,711 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from UNV, 11 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.