Amateur-built SA-300A accident near Millville, New Jersey, June 19, 1993
On June 19, 1993 at about 4:00 am local time, a amateur-built SA-300A, registered N390BG, was destroyed in an accident near Millville, New Jersey. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inflight planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion. A factor was inadequate preflight planning.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1993 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Millville, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SA-300A
- Registration
- N390BG · registry record · serial 156
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL IN THE TANK PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, BUT INSTEAD HE READ THE SIGHT GAGE ON THE FUEL CAP, WHICH INDICATED 7/8 FULL. HE SAID THAT THE ENGINE QUIT AFTER 15 MILES. THE PILOT TOLD A RESCUE PERSON THAT HE BECAME LOST AFTER TAKEOFF BECAUSE OF LOW CLOUDS AND AN OLD MAP. HE SAID THAT HE RAN LOW ON FUEL, AND WHEN HE DID FIND THE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE QUIT BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO LAND. NO FUEL WAS FOUND AT THE ACCIDENT SITE, NOR WAS THERE ANY EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE ENGINE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE ENGINE REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES.
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
- Flight time: 89 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 70 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 20, 1993; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WWD Wildwood NJ at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from MI
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.