Piper PA-28-181 accident near Long Pond, Pennsylvania, November 30, 1996
On November 30, 1996 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N4839F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Long Pond, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation and improper inflight planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power, due to an inadequate supply of fuel. Darkness and trees in the emergency landing area were related factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 30, 1996 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Long Pond, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N4839F · no longer on the register · serial 28-7790066
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was en route at night in instrument meteorological conditions at 8000 feet, when he reported that fuel exhaustion had occurred and the engine had lost power. He made a forced landing in a wooded area, and the occupants remained with the airplane overnight. They were rescued the next morning by search personnel, aided by the signal from the emergency locator beacon of the airplane. The accident occurred on the return leg of a round trip flight. The pilot last refueled the aircraft before starting the trip. The aircraft was subsequently operated about 4.2 hours (2.2 hours on the accident leg) when the loss of power occurred. Examination of the airplane revealed the fuel tanks were empty. The pilot indicated that he checked the fuel level during the preflight and felt he had enough to complete the flight.
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: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 104 in this make and model; 1,700 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,885 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 15, 1996; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0B5 Montague MA at 8:30 pm
- Destination: N85 Pittstown NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 090° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 1.5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from ABE, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.