# NTSB NYC91FA006: Cessna 152, N4708M, Griswold, CT, October 8, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 7, 1990, 21:10 local (Oct 8, 1990, 01:10 UTC)
- Place: Griswold, CT
- Location: 41.5852° N, 71.9227° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Town of Griswold, CT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5852&lon=-71.9227&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36770
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91FA006
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36770/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91FA006

## Probable cause

A BROKEN EHAUST VALVE SPRING THAT RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN, AND FAILURE OF THE OCCUPANTS TO USE THEIR SHOULDER HARNESSES.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, approach
  - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - flight control,flap - false indication
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s)
  - shoulder harness - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - shoulder harness - not used, passenger (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT & PSGR WERE ON A LOCAL FLT AT NGT.  PSNL AT THE ARPT NOTED THAT THE RWY LIGHTS HAD BEEN ACTIVATED, BUT NO ACFT WAS SEEN TO LAND.  THE ACFT WAS FND THE NEXT MORNING ABOUT 6 MI NORTHEAST OF THE ARPT, WHERE IT HAD HIT TREES & CRASHED.  AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED IT HAD IMPACTED TREES, WHILE IN A SHALLOW DSCNT.  A LACK OF ROTATIONAL SCARRING WAS NOTED ON THE PROP; ONLY 1 BLADE WAS DEFORMED & ONLY 1 BLADE CONTAINED LEADING EDGE NICKS.  THE FLAPS WERE FND IN THE FULLY EXTENDED (30 DEG) POSITION, BUT THE FLAP INDICATOR SHOWED ONLY 10 DEGS OF FLAPS.  ABOUT 8 GAL OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN EACH WING TANK.  A CHECK OF THE ENG REVEALED A LACK OF COMPRESSION IN THE #3 CYLINDER DUE TO A BROKEN EXHAUST VALVE SPRING.  NO OTHER PRE-ACDNT ANOMALIES WERE FND. THE PLT & PSGR WERE NOT WEARING THEIR AVAILABLE SHOULDER HARNESSES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4708M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4708M-1993-03-05), registration cancelled 1993-03-05, S/N 15284479 (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: 15284479
- Airframe hours: 1683
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Spence, David A.
- Registered owner: Spence, David A
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 25, 1989, 114 hours before
- Departed: 5B4, GRISWOLD
- Destination: 5B4
- Airport: 5B4, Lake Side, runway 29, 2,520 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 430 total, 430 in this make and model, 395 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Observed at: GON, 15 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 19901007044209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901007044209A), Oct 7, 1990: Cessna 152, Griswold, CT, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Prop indicates power loss prior descending into trees. NR3 cylinder valve spring broken. Dark night fog in area.

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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