# NTSB BFO93LA038: Cessna 152, N5523L, Petersburg, OH, March 1, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 1, 1993, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Petersburg, OH
- Coordinates: 40.899734, -80.539482 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8997&lon=-80.5395&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11907
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO93LA038
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11907/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO93LA038

## Probable cause

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SHORT, SOFT, HILLY TERRAIN CONDITION IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, descent - normal
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - lowering of flaps - not attained, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - soft
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

WHILE RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT FROM AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE ENGINE 'HAD A SUDDEN POWER DROP OF 1300 TO 1400 RPM,'  ACCORDING TO THE CFI.  THE CFI 'WENT THROUGH THE EMERGENCY CHECKLIST' AND 'COULD NOT HOLD ALTITUDE.' THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER WHEN THE LEFT MAGNETO WAS SELECTED.  THE CFI PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING ON SHORT, SOFT, HILLY TERRAIN, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE FLAPS WERE FOUND IN THE RETRACTED POSITION, ALTHOUGH THE FLAP SELECTOR SWITCH WAS FOUND IN THE FULLY EXTENDED POSITION.  AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. BOTH MAGNETOS WERE FUNCTIONALLY TESTED AND MET MANUFACTURER'S TOLERANCES. THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WERE 38 AND 20 DEG, RESPECTIVELY.  ACCORDING TO CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO VISIBLE ICING AT GLIDE AND CRUISE POWER; THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS FOUND IN A MIDWAY POSITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5523L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5523L-1995-02-01), registration cancelled 1995-02-01, S/N 15284334 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15284334
- Airframe hours: 6592
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Stensin Aviation, Inc
- Registered owner: Stensin Aviation, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 3, 1993, 51 hours before
- Departed: BEAVER FALLS, PA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 592 total, 129 in this make and model, 496 as pilot in command, 185 in the last 90 days, 76 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 17 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: YNG, 10 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 19930301004269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930301004269A), Mar 1, 1993: Cessna 152, Petersburg, OH, Substantial damage. Lost power. Unsuitable small downwind landing area available. Nosed over landing to prevent running into 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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
