Piper PA-22-150 accident near Avoca, Pennsylvania, July 23, 1995
On July 23, 1995 at about 5:25 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N1613P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Avoca, Pennsylvania (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Int 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
the pilot's poor inflight decision and improper fuel management resulting in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent forced landing over rocky terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1995 · about 5:25 pm local time
- Place
- Avoca, Pennsylvania · Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Int · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N1613P · no longer on the register · serial 22-2427
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
APPROACH CONTROL ASKED THE PILOT HOW MUCH FUEL REMAINED, AND THE PILOT REPLIED THAT THERE WAS NO RESERVE FUEL. THE CONTROLLER ADVISED THE PILOT OF AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT CLOSER THAN THE PLANNED DESTINATION. THE PILOT ELECTED TO PROCEED TO THE PLANNED DESTINATION. DURING THE APPROACH, ABOUT TWO MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER AND THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING IN A STONE QUARRY. THE FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE INSPECTED AND ABOUT ONE QUART OF FUEL WAS FOUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS, AND 'FORCED LANDING RESULTED FROM WEATHER RELATED FUEL EXHAUSTION AT END OF CROSS COUNTRY TRIP. CLOSER ATTENTION TO HEAD WINDS AND ALTERNATE AIRPORTS COULD HAVE PREVENTED 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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 904 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 786 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,025 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 1995; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PLB Plattsburg NY at 1:25 pm
- Destination: AVP PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 28.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N1613P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.