# NTSB MIA95LA001: Cessna 152, N65454, Greenwood, MS, October 3, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 2, 1994, 20:00 local (Oct 3, 1994, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Greenwood, MS
- Location: 33.5125° N, 90.1990° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Greenwood, MS, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5125&lon=-90.1990&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 7, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37682
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37682/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA001

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION CONCERNING THE SELECTION/APPROACH/EXECUTION OF THE EMERGENCY LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE, HIS BECOMING LOST/DISORIENTED, THE LIGHT CONDITIONS AT DUSK, AND THE PROXIMITY OF TREES TO THE SELECTED EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON THE SECOND LEG OF A SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT WHEN HE BECAME LOST AND DISORIENTED. AS THE FUEL LEVEL WAS GETTING LOW AND DARKNESS WAS APPROACHING, HE ELECTED TO LAND ON A ROAD. THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE LANDING, THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT SPACE TO STOP, SO HE STEERED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT, BUT IT COLLIDED WITH A TREE BEFORE STOPPING.

## Factual narrative

On October 2, 1994, about 2000 central daylight time, N65454, a Cessna 152, registered to Allen Leasing Inc.,  crashed on landing to a road in Greenwood, Mississippi. The flight was a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a local VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Tupelo, Mississippi, about 1710 the same day.

The student pilot was on his first solo cross-country flight and became lost and disoriented. He was low on fuel and attempted a landing on an open road. During the landing he lost control of the airplane and it struck a tree.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N65454](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65454-1995-01-10), registration cancelled 1995-01-10, S/N 15281561 (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: 81561
- Airframe hours: 4244
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Air Venture Corp.
- Registered owner: Allen Leasing Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, September 23, 1994, 12 hours before
- Departed: TUP, TUPELO, MS
- Destination: OLV, OLIVE BRANCH, MS
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 34 total, 33 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GWO, 23 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 19941002032429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941002032429A), Oct 2, 1994: Cessna 152, Greenwood, MS, Substantial damage. Student lost on solo crosscountry. Low on fuel. Struck a tree landing on a road.

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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