Ryan ST-3KR accident near Factoryville, Pennsylvania, August 20, 1989
On August 20, 1989 at about 8:35 pm local time, a Ryan ST-3KR, registered N239, was substantially damaged in an accident near Factoryville, Pennsylvania (Seamans Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT AND HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF THE FUEL SUPPLY, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE DITCH WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 1989 · about 8:35 pm local time
- Place
- Factoryville, Pennsylvania · Seamans Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan ST-3KR
- Registration
- N239 · registry record · serial 1325
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT RATED PILOT HAD WAITED OVER 1 HOUR FOR FUEL AND DECIDED HE HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO GET FROM TOWANDA, PA TO SEAMANS AIRPORT, PA, SO HE DID NOT REFUEL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED IN A FIELD 1-1/2 TO 2 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. DURING LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT HIT A DITCH & FLIPPED OVERON ITS BACK. AN ON-SITE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO FUEL WAS REMAINING.
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, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,400 hours in all; 190 in this make and model; 285 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 3,550 as pilot in command; 400 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,844 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1989; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,885 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kinner R-56 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N27 Towanda PA at 8:10 pm
- Destination: 9N3 Factoryville PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.