Cessna 172K accident near Deal, New Jersey, September 28, 1996
On September 28, 1996 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N84593, was substantially damaged in an accident near Deal, New Jersey. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper decision/planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 1996 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Deal, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N84593 · no longer on the register · serial 17258538
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On 9/27/96, during a flight from Newport News, VA (PHF), to to Collegeville, PA (N10), the pilot flew beyond the destination and landed at Blairstown, NJ, after 3.6 hrs of flight time and after being assisted by ATC due to low fuel. The airplane was refueled with 40.2 gal of fuel, then the pilot flew (1.1 hrs) back to N10. The next day the airplane was refueled with 15.8 gal of fuel, and then the pilot departed on a flight back to PHF. After 3.2 hrs of flight, the engine lost power, and the pilot made a forced landing on a golf course, where the airplane was damaged. Examination revealed about 30 ounces of fuel was remaining in the airplane. The total fuel capacity of the airplane was 42 gal of which 38 gal were considered to be usable. No pre-accident mechanical problem was found. The pilot obtained her private pilot certificate on 9/23/96, and was checked out in the accident airplane on 9/27/96. She had an estimated 67 hrs of total flight experience.
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: 67 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 34 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N10 Collegeville PA at 2:40 pm
- Destination: PHF Newport News VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from BLM, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.