Piper PA-38-112 accident near Newburyport, Massachusetts, October 15, 1992
On October 15, 1992 at about 3:50 am local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2386L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newburyport, Massachusetts. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS AND IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING, RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 1992 · about 3:50 am local time
- Place
- Newburyport, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2386L · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0690
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE PILOT OBSERVED A LOW FUEL QUANITY INDICATION. HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND REQUESTED VECTORS FOR LANDING, HOWEVER, BEFORE REACHING THE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING ON A HIGHWAY, AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE LEFT WING STRUCK A ROAD SIGN. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE FAA INSPECTOR REVEALED 'LESS THAN ONE PINT OF FUEL...FROM EACH SUMP.'
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,725 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Beverly Flight Center, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: B21 Carrabassett ME
- Destination: BVY Beverly MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- 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.