Monongahela – Pittsburgh – Teterboro – Pittsburgh – Monongahela

On October 12, 1990 at 03:45 PM, Monongahela – Pittsburgh – Teterboro – Pittsburgh – Monongahela experienced a crash involving Swearingen SA26T Merlin II, operated by Gary Zagari %26 Associates, with the event recorded near Monongahela-Rostraver Pennsylvania.

The flight was categorized as ferry and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

1 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The flight was from Monongahela to Pittsburgh to Teterboro, NJ, then return to Pittsburgh and back to Monongahela. The flight departed Monongahela with 100 gallons of fuel; 160 gallons were added at Pittsburgh; and 80 gallons were added at Teterboro. The pilot wanted to add more fuel at Teterboro but the owner did not due to the higher cost of fuel and the fuel gage indications. During the return trip no fuel was added at Pittsburgh because the pilot did not have a credit card provided by the owner or money to buy fuel. The flight experienced a two-engine power loss due to fuel exhaustion while approaching the Monongahela Airport. Subsequent examination of the cockpit fuel gages showed a total of 125 gallons in the left tank and 90 gallons in the right tank; the reading remained the same with or without power.

Aircraft reference details include registration N690X, MSN T26-141, year of manufacture 1969.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 40.1368°, -79.8577°.