# NTSB NYC94LA071: Cessna 152, N6460L, Amherst, MA, March 23, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 23, 1994, 16:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place: Amherst, MA
- Location: 42.3804° N, 72.5231° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Amherst, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3804&lon=-72.5231&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 18, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38744
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA071
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38744/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA071

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S INADVERTENTLY BECOMING LOST, AND THE SUBSEQUENT PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A FIELD, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH SOFT TERRAIN AND NOSE OVER.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (cause)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT.  HE REPORTED THAT HE 'BECAME LOST.' HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HIS POSITION, AND HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN CONTACTING ATC FOR ASSISTANCE.  WHEN THE AIRPLANE FUEL SUPPLY BECAME LOW, HE INITIATED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A FIELD.  DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE NOSE WHEEL ENCOUNTERED SOFT TERRAIN, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER.

## Factual narrative

On Wednesday, March 23, 1994, at 1620 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N646OL, sustained substantial damage during a precautionary landing in a field in Amherst, Massachusetts.  The student pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed.  The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The student pilot was conducting a solo cross country flight from Manchester, New Hampshire to Schenectady, New York.  He stated that he "became lost and disorientated."  He also stated that he was "unable to raise anyone on [the] radio."

He became concerned that he would exhaust the airplane fuel supply, so he elected to perform a precautionary landing in a field.  During the landing roll, the nose wheel collided with soft terrain, and the airplane nosed over and damaged the engine fire wall and empennage.

Mr. Joseph S. Santos, Airworthiness Inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration, stated in his report:

According to the student pilot he became lost           enroute and when he looked at the fuel gages he           thought he was running out of fuel.  As a result           he made a precautionary landing.  On the scene           inspection of the aircraft did not reveal any           evidence of any airframe or powerplant malfunc-           tion.

At the time of the accident, the student pilot had a total of 74 hours flight time.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6460L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6460L), registered now, S/N 15284401, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15284410
- Airframe hours: 5996
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richmor Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 5, 1994, 50 hours before
- Departed: MHT, MANCHESTER, NH
- Destination: SCH, SCHENECTADY, NY

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 74 total, 74 in this make and model, 15 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F

## 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 19940323006529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940323006529A), Mar 23, 1994: Cessna 152, Amherst, MA, Substantial damage. Became lost on solo cross country. Feared low fuel. Elected land in a field. Collapsed nose gear. Nosed over.

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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