Cessna 172 accident near Durham, New Hampshire, April 10, 1993
On April 10, 1993 at about 8:12 am local time, a Cessna 172, registered N8228G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Durham, New Hampshire (Pease Intl Tradeport airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, FAILURE TO OBTAIN INFLIGHT WEATHER INFORMATION, AND PILOT FATIGUE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 1993 · about 8:12 am local time
- Place
- Durham, New Hampshire · Pease Intl Tradeport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N8228G · no longer on the register · serial 17273617
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE THE INSTRUMENT APPROACH TO HIS DESTINATION, BUT THE HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE RUNWAY AT LANDING MINIMUMS. HE ELECTED TO PROCEED TO HIS ALTERNATE AIRPORT, WHERE HE MADE TWO MORE APPROACHES WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO LAND BECAUSE OF LOW WEATHER CONDITIONS. HE THEN FLEW TO A THIRD AIRPORT, WHERE HE MADE THREE MORE UNSUCCESSFUL INSTRUMENT APPROACHES. ON THE LAST MISSED APPROACH, THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED NO FUEL IN THE TANKS. THE WEATHER AT THE LAST AIRPORT WAS REPORTED AS CEILING 400 FEET, OBSCURED, VISIBILITY 1/4 OF A MILE WITH LIGHT DRIZZLE AND FOG. THE ILS WAS FLIGHT CHECKED BY THE FAA AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND RATED SATISFACTORY. THE PILOT SAID HE DID NOT REQUEST CURRENT WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT HAD FLOWN APPROXIMATELY 10 HOURS DURING THE 14 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: 447 hours in all; 134 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 286 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,130 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 29, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 230 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: J.C.R. Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: BGM Binghamton NY at 2:30 am
- Destination: BVY Beverly MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 34, 11,318 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 040° at 3 knots
- Sky: not recorded at 400 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 am from PSM, 3 miles away
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.