Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Jessup, Pennsylvania, April 27, 1991
On April 27, 1991 at about 7:44 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N4930J, was destroyed in an accident near Jessup, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A POWER LOSS DUE TO OIL STARVATION FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 1991 · about 7:44 pm local time
- Place
- Jessup, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N4930J · no longer on the register · serial 28R-30651
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A FEW MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A HEAVY VIBRATION AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A WOODED AREA. THE PILOT WAS BURNED AND THE AIRPLANE DESTROYED IN A POST CRASH FIRE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE NUMBER 4 CONNECTING ROD HAD FAILED DUE TO OIL STARVATION. DUE TO THE FIRE DAMAGE, THE SOURCE OF THE OIL LOSS WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 627 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 523 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 9N3 Factoryville PA at 7:22 pm
- Destination: N30 Honesdale PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.