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NYC89LA217

1989-09-28 · PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport PNE

N9825U has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (UVIFY 810-00028), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

FUEL STARVATION, DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO A TANK WITH ADEQUATE FUEL FOR LANDING, AND HIS FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE PROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURE AFTER THE TANK EMPTIED.

Factual narrative

A STUDENT PILOT REQUESTED A TOUCH AND GO LANDING ON RUNWAY 24, WHICH WAS APPROVED. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF SEQUENCE, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN LOSING ALTITUDE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE STUDENT TURNED THE AIRCRAFT TOWARD AN AREA BEYOND TREES WEST OF THE AIRPORT, WHERE THE PLANE WAS DAMAGED DURING A CRASH LANDING. AN EXAM REVEALED THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO AN EMPTY TANK; SEVERAL GALLONS OF FUEL WAS REMAINING IN THE OPPOSITE TANK. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_NYC89LA217.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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