- Date
- February 12, 1990, 23:58 local (Feb 13, 1990, 04:58 UTC)
- Place
- Elkhart, IN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N4931MCessna 152
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Status
- Completed · report September 4, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900212002039A
- Case key
- 14629
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision and inadequate fuel consumption calculations, which resulted in a loss of engine power & subsequent off-airport forced landing. The stronger than anticipated wind aloft was a contributing factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that while in cruise flight, the aircraft engine lost power. He made a forced landing at night in an open field, and the aircraft nosed over during the landing roll. Investigators drained a total of 1-1/2 gallons of fuel from the wing fuel tanks. The pilot stated that he encountered unexpected, strong headwinds during the cross country flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4931M
- Reported as
- Cessna 152
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15284493
- Airframe hours
- 3,099
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Rachel Diehl, doing business as Cushing Aviation
- Registered owner
- Flying C. Lsg., Ltd.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- CLE · Cleveland, OH
- Destination
- SBN · South Bend, IN
- Flight plan
- IFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 22
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 182 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Wind
- 190° at 14 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SBN, 12 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.