NTSB Factual Report

On July 26, 2008, approximately 1745 eastern daylight time (edt), a Piper PA-12 Airplane, N4361M, made a forced landing, in a residential area of Rio Grande, New Jersey, after a complete loss of engine power, The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and the flight was being operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight was for the purpose of towing a banner and had departed Lakewood, New Jersey about 1345 EDT.

About four hours into the flight the engine started sputtering and eventually stopped completely. The pilot reported that at the cruise power setting used, at the time of the power loss, 15-20 minutes of fuel remained in the tanks according to calculations based on fuel burn data gathered throughout the previous month.

A Federal Aviation Inspector looked at the fuel tanks at at the accident site and found them to be empty.

The pilot stated in the recommendations section of the pilot report that "in order to reduce my total flight time and land with required fuel minimums, I should have turned inland at an earlier point."

NTSB Probable Cause

A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel management.