Piper PA-46 accident near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, December 15, 1993
On December 15, 1993 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-46, registered N92GP, was destroyed in an accident near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton airport). 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
was the loss of engine oil for undetermined reasons and the subsequent engine failure, resulting in a forced landing and collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 15, 1993 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania · Wilkes-Barre/Scranton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46 · all PA-46s on the register
- Registration
- N92GP · no longer on the register · serial 4622120
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CRUISING AT FL 240, THE PILOT OBSERVED THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE GRADUALLY DECREASE FROM THE NORMAL TO THE CAUTION RANGE AND A DROP IN MANIFOLD PRESSURE. HE REQUESTED AND RECEIVED VECTORS FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT AN AIRPORT SHORT OF HIS DESTINATION. DURING THE DESCENT, THE OIL PRESSURE CONTINUED TO DROP TO ZERO AND ENGINE POWER WAS LOST. HE WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THE AIRPORT UNDERNEATH THE OVERCAST, BUT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER PREVENTED HIM FROM REACHING THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES 1200 FEET FROM THE AIRPORT. THE 6 ENGINE CYLINDER ASSEMBLIES WERE CHANGED 7 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND TURBOCHARGERS DID NOT REVEAL THE SOURCE OF THE OIL LOSS.
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: 675 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 575 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 206 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 7, 1993; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,318 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BED Bedford MA at 9:35 pm
- Destination: JYO Leesburg VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 050° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from AVP
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.