- Date
- February 14, 1995, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Colts Neck, NJ
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N89712Cessna 152
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 26, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950214001789A
- Case key
- 38918
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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor relating to this accident was the unsuitable terrain.
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 airplane was in level flight at 1,500 ft msl with the crew intending to conduct ground reference maneuvers. The instructor noticed a loss of power and verified the student did not inadvertently reduce the power. The instructor used emergency procedures but the engine continued to lose power. He made a forced landing in a field during which the airplane crossed a ditch and nosed over. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies.
Factual narrative
On February 14, 1995 about 1215 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N89712, operated by Gibson Air Academy Inc. and piloted by John Impaglia was substantially damaged during a forced landing on a field in Colts Neck, New Jersey. The instructor and student pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The instructor stated, they departed Allaire, New Jersey on a local flight. After practicing some maneuvers, they descended to 1500 feet mean sea level (msl). They leveled at 1500 feet msl, with the intent to conduct ground reference maneuvers and the flight instructor noticed a loss of power. The instructor verified that the student did not inadvertently reduce the power. The instructor used emergency procedures but the engine continued to lose power. The instructor executed a forced landing on a field. During the landing the airplane crossed a ditch and nosed over.
The post accident engine inspection was performed by Leonard Boyd, Chief Inspector at Monmouth Aircraft Service, Inc., the company that provided maintenance for this airplane on a regular basis. According to Leonard Boyd, no anomalies were found other than the float valve in the carburetor was sticky, and was undetermined if it was from impact damage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N89712
- Reported as
- Cessna 152
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15282836
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 112 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Gibson Air Academy Inc.
- Registered owner
- Gibson Air Academy Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 16, 1994 · 35 hours before
- Departed
- BLM · Allaire, NJ
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 839 total · 429 in this make and model · 785 as pilot in command · 69 in the last 90 days · 33 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 11 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 27 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.