Piper PA-31-350 accident near Norridgewock, Maine, August 24, 1990
On August 24, 1990 at about 12:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N250SC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Norridgewock, Maine. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT AND INFLIGHT PLANNING OF THE FUEL, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 1990 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Norridgewock, Maine
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N250SC · registry record · serial 31-7752076
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LAND BECAUSE OF FOG. HE DIVERTED TO TWO OTHER AIRPORTS, BUT THESE WERE ALSO FOGGED IN. WHILE FLYING TO A THIRD AIRPORT, BOTH ENGINES QUIT AND THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN A FIELD. AN ON SITE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRPLANE HAD NO FUEL IN THE TANKS. THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED HE HAD NOT CHECKED THE FUEL QUANTITY BEFORE THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THE FIRST TIME HE REALIZED HE DIDN'T HAVE FUEL IN THE AUXILIARY TANKS WAS WHEN HE SELECTED THEM WHILE DIVERTING TO THE THIRD AIRPORT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,250 hours in all; 900 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Telford Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: BGR Bangor ME
- Destination: WVY Waterville ME
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- 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.