# NTSB BFO93FA061: Cessna A152, N761XA, Revere, PA, March 28, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 27, 1993, 19:15 local (Mar 28, 1993, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Revere, PA
- Location: 40.5154° N, 75.1610° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Revere, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5154&lon=-75.1610&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11872
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO93FA061
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11872/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO93FA061

## Probable cause

THE CFI FAILED TO ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE THE OPERATION.  RELATED FACTORS WERE DARK NIGHT, LOST/DISORIENTATION OF THE PILOT, AND HER LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF OPERATION (NIGHT FLYING).

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - drizzle/mist (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, approach
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS RETURNING AT NIGHT ON THE LAST LEG OF HER LONG SOLO CROSS COUNTRY.  ACCORDING TO THE FAA, THE PILOT DEPARTED LANCASTER AIRPORT AT 1758 EST AND HAD RECEIVED A PREFLIGHT BRIEFING THAT INDICATED FLIGHT PRECAUTIONS FOR IFR CONDITIONS.  THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT THE ORIGINAL TRIP PLANNED BY THE STUDENT WAS CANCELLED DUE TO IFR CONDITIONS ON THAT ROUTE.  SHE CHANGED HER ROUTE AND AS INSTRUCTED, SHE CALLED HIM FROM LANCASTER AND REPORTED HER LOCATION.  SHE ALSO ADVISED HIM THAT THE WEATHER WAS VFR FOR HER RETURN TRIP.  THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT HE TOLD THE STUDENT THAT IF ANY UNCERTAINTY EXISTED ONCE SHE BECAME AIRBORNE, SHE SHOULD LAND.  RADAR DATA OBTAINED FROM THE FAA SHOWED THE AIRPLANE AT 900 FEET MAKING SEVERAL TURNS.  ACCORDING TO WITNESSES THE AIRPLANE WAS SEEN THROUGH THE FOG AND DRIZZLE CIRCLING THE AREA.  THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES IN A HEAVILY WOODED AREA  AND THEN BECAME INVERTED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N761XA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N761XA-1993-05-27), registration cancelled 1993-05-27, S/N A1520993 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A152
- Registry model: [Cessna A152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a152) (registry code 2071836) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: A1520993
- Airframe hours: 6344
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Royal Karina Air Service Inc.
- Registered owner: Royal Karina Air Service Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 3, 1992, 50 hours before
- Departed: LNS, LANCASTER, PA
- Destination: N40, PITTSTOWN, NJ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 17; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 75 total, 75 in this make and model, 23 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 80° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABE, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19930327007009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930327007009A), Mar 27, 1993: Cessna A152, Revere, PA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Student on solo cross country at night encountered rain and fog. Became disoriented. Collided with trees.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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