# NTSB NYC94LA096: Cessna 152, N68186, Spring City, PA, May 30, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 29, 1994, 20:15 local (May 30, 1994, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Spring City, PA - Coordinates: 40.170677, -75.540725 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1707&lon=-75.5407&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38765 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38765/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA096 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING AND INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, RESULTING IN FUEL SUPPLY EXHAUSTION, LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND THE SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, landing - object - tree(s) (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS CRUISING TO HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT, WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN POWER. HE INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD, BUT THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE DURING THE LANDING. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AND OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY. THE AIRPLANE WAS REMOVED FROM THE FIELD, AND THE FAA CONDUCTED A SUCCESSFUL ENGINE START AND RUN-UP. THE FAA REPORT STATED: 'PILOT MISCALCULATED FLIGHT TIME FLOWN DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT.' ## Factual narrative On Saturday, May 29, 1994, at 2015 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N68186, registered to Lanes Valley Forge Aviation, Inc., and piloted by Edward Bogdanow, sustained substantial damage, during a forced landing in Spring City, Pennsylvania. The pilot was not injured, and the passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was completing a flight from Cumberland, Maryland, destined for the Perkiomen Valley Airport, Collegeville, Pennsylvania. He stated that he was in cruise flight, when the engine suddenly quit. There had been no problems prior to this event. He attempted to restart the engine, while he was preparing for a forced landing. He located a field and attempted to land in it, but according to his statement, "I was too high on final for...the field," and the airplane collided with trees. Prior to the impact, the engine restarted momentarily and then quit again. Jesse Kern, Aviation Safety Inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration, examined the wreckage and determined that the fuel tanks were not ruptured and were empty. Inspector Thomas J. Kerr stated on FAA Form 8020-16, "Fuel exhaustion - Pilot miscalculated flight time flown during a cross country flight." FAA Airworthiness Inspector, Joseph Radosky, conducted an engine start and run-up. He stated, "Engine running rough because of bent propeller and the engine run [was] normal." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68186](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68186-1994-08-11), registration cancelled 1994-08-11, S/N 15282171 (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: 15282171 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lanes Valley Forge Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 1994 - Departed: CBE, CUMBERLAND, MD - Destination: N10, COLLEGEVILLE, PA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 331 total, 315 in this make and model, 242 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 270° at 10 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °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 19940529048359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940529048359A), May 29, 1994: Cessna 152, Spring City, PA, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel en route. Overshot open field into trees on forced landing. 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.