Piper PA-28-140 accident near Emmaus, Pennsylvania, September 15, 1987
On September 15, 1987 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N15793, was substantially damaged in an accident near Emmaus, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- September 15, 1987 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Emmaus, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N15793 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7325166
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DRG FLT, THE ENG LOST POWER OVER A RESIDENTIAL AREA & THE PLT SELECTED A SMALL FENCED-IN OPENING FOR AN EMERGENCY LNDG. HE SAID HE CRASHED NOSEWHEEL 1ST, THEN SKIDDED INTO A CYCLONE FENCE. AFTER THE ACDNT, THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FND POSITIONED TO THE RGT TANK WHICH WAS EMPTY. THE LEFT TANK STILL HAD 18 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING. THE PLT SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN TRAINED IN CESSNA 150 & 152 ACFT WHICH DO NOT REQUIRE MANUALLY CHANGING FUEL TANKS. ALSO, HE STATED THAT 'IN A CRUISE SITUATION, THE THOUGHT OF CHANGING TANKS NEVER ENTERED MY MIND.' HE HAD ONLY 97 HRS TOTAL TIME WITH 5 HRS IN THIS MAKE & MODEL OF ACFT.
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
- Flight time: 97 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 28 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Allentown PA at 11:10 pm
- Destination: Pottstown PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
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.