Piper PA-28-181 accident near Palmyra, New York, November 22, 1988
On November 22, 1988 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N2885G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palmyra, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN A CANAL FOLLOWING A POWER LOSS CAUSED BY FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO MISCALCULATED FUEL BURN BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 22, 1988 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Palmyra, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N2885G · registry record · serial 28-809-0001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS ENROUTE WHEN THE PILOT SAID HE EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN A CANAL AND THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS SWAM TO SHORE. THE PILOT HAD CHANGED HIS DESTINATION FROM NIAGARA FALLS TO ROCHESTER WHILE IN CONTACT WITH SYRACUSE APPROACH CONTROL, DUE TO LOW FUEL; HOWEVER, HE DID NOT ADVISE SYRACUSE OF THE SITUATION AND ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE ANOTHER 68 MILES. HE RAN OUT OF FUEL 20 MILES SHORT OF HIS DESTINATION OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.
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: 230 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 129 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BVY Beverly MA
- Destination: ROC Rochester NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from ROC, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC89LA035.