Piper PA-28-161 accident near Blairsville, Pennsylvania, August 21, 1997
On August 21, 1997 at about 5:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N47900, was substantially damaged in an accident near Blairsville, Pennsylvania (Jim Shearer South airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inaccurate fuel consumption calculations and improper in-flight planning/decision, which led to fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 1997 · about 5:35 pm local time
- Place
- Blairsville, Pennsylvania · Jim Shearer South · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N47900 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7816154
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said he visually verified that the airplane had full fuel tanks before departure. He estimated that would provide 6 hours of fuel endurance for the anticipated 4 hour and 50 minute flight. The pilot stated the engine began to miss as he approached his destination. He said he switched tanks several times and rocked the airplane using rudder to search for more fuel. The pilot attempted a forced landing at an airport prior to his destination, but the airplane crashed at the departure end of the landing runway. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of fuel. The Hobbs meter reflected 5.1 hours from the time of departure.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 708 hours in all; 209 in this make and model; 225 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 590 as pilot in command; 350 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,112 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 29, 1997; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LEW Auburn ME at 12:54 pm
- Destination: LBE Latrobe PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 15, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,700 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from LBE, 12 miles away
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.