Piper PA-28-140 accident near Augusta, Maine, July 25, 1994
On July 25, 1994 at about 2:10 am local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N32925, was substantially damaged in an accident near Augusta, Maine (Augusta State Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper positioning of the fuel selector because of inadequate inflight decision/planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 1994 · about 2:10 am local time
- Place
- Augusta, Maine · Augusta State Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N32925 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7525128
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DID A MISSED APPROACH AT HIS PLANNED DESTINATION DUE TO WEATHER AND FLEW TO THE ALTERNATE AIRPORT WHERE THE ENGINE LOST POWER IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. ACCORDING TO THE THE PILOT, HE WAS IN A LEFT PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 17 WHEN HE NOTICED HE WAS TOO LOW DURING THE FINAL LEG. HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. HE DID A FORCED LANDING, DURING WHICH THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH AN EMBANKMENT, AND CAME TO REST 250 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED 20 TO 22 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK, THE LEFT TANK HAD LESS THAN A GALLON. THE FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH WAS POSITIONED FOR THE LEFT TANK.
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: 716 hours in all; 430 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 641 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,472 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1993; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-O3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVC Provincetown MA at 11:30 pm
- Destination: AUG ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from AUG
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.