Socata TB 9 TAMPICO accident near Laurens, New York, November 4, 1996
On November 4, 1996 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Socata TB 9 TAMPICO, registered N5541C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Laurens, New York. It was an instructional 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 student pilot's selection of an unsuitable area for a precautionary landing. Factors relating to the accident were: the student becoming lost, the subsequent low fuel condition, and the embankment in the emergency landing area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 4, 1996 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Laurens, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Socata TB 9 TAMPICO TB 9 TAMPI · all TB 9 TAMPICOs on the register
- Registration
- N5541C · no longer on the register · serial 1199
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was on a solo cross-country flight, when he became lost and landed at an unfamiliar airport. He departed to return to his original destination and became lost again. The flight was airborne for several hours, when the fuel supply became low, and the pilot elected to make a precautionary landing on a road. During the precautionary landing, the right wing impacted an embankment and broke off. Examination of the wreckage did not disclose any mechanical failure, nor did the pilot report any. The right fuel tank was empty, and the left fuel tank had only 4 gallons of fuel remaining. The fuel selector was in the left fuel tank position.
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: student
- Flight time: 61 hours in all; 61 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 70N Sterling PA
- Destination: MSV Monticello NY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:43 pm from OIC, 22 miles away
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 N5541C 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.