Cessna 140 accident near Richmond, Rhode Island, August 28, 1995
On August 28, 1995 at about 1:20 am local time, a Cessna 140, registered N3174N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Richmond, Rhode Island (Richmond airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel supply, and his improper positioning of the fuel selector, which resulted in fuel starvation and 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
- August 28, 1995 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Richmond, Rhode Island · Richmond
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N3174N · no longer on the register · serial 13432
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot executed a go-around, and during the climb, the airplane's engine lost power. During the forced landing, the airplane struck the top of a tree. Examination of the wreckage revealed the fuel selector was set on the left tank, the left fuel tank was empty, and the right tank had approximately 5 gallons or less of fuel. Also, the pilot stated that at the time of the engine power loss, the fuel selector was on the 'left' tank. Examination of the left fuel tank revealed no evidence of fuel leakage. Examination of the engine did not reveal any 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,063 hours in all; 519 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 1,015 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,374 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 29, 1995; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N63 Sussex NJ at 10:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 2,130 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.