# NTSB NYC95LA204: Cessna 152, N6391M, Orson, PA, August 25, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 25, 1995, 17:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Orson, PA - Location: 41.8137° N, 75.4480° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Orson, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8137&lon=-75.4480&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 3, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39037 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA204 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39037/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA204 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper planning/decision, and his delay in aborting the takeoff, which resulted in a collision with a pile of dirt and shrubs. The upsloping terrain (for takeoff) was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor) - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment - terrain condition - high vegetation - Nose down, takeoff - aborted ## Analysis The pilot misidentified a farm pasture as a privately owned airport. After realizing he had landed at the wrong place, he attempted a take-off. The pilot stated he decided to takeoff upwind and uphill, instead of downhill and downwind. After lift-off, the pilot determined that the airplane would not clear trees, and he aborted the takeoff. He landed and applied brakes, but the airplane struck a pile of dirt and shrubs about eight to ten feet high. It came to rest in a nose down attitude. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions. ## Factual narrative On August 25, 1995, about 1745 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N6391M, struck bushes during takeoff from a field near Orson, New York. The airplane was substantially damaged, the commercial pilot and 1 passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that he was attempting to take off from "a short field grass runway, and the runway had [a] slight incline." According to the pilot he had an option of taking off downwind or up the incline into the wind. He stated: ...I believed into the wind would give better performance. Plane eventually lifted and started to climb. It seemed that there would be a problem clearing trees beyond runway end. I pushed plane back to [the] ground and braked as best I could. Plane overshot end of runway, hit...bushes, brush,...[and] went up on its nose.... According to the FAA Inspector's statement, the pilot had stated that he landed in a "farm pasture...because he thought it was Stahl Mountain Airport...a grass, privately owned airport about seven miles east of the farm pasture." The FAA Inspector stated: After realizing he had landed at the wrong place, he attempted a take-off. After lift-off, [the pilot] realized he would not clear trees in front of him and aborted...landed, rolled out and applied brakes, but ended up in a pile of dirt and shrubs about eight to ten feet high in a nose down vertical attitude...[the] pilot stated there were no obvious mechanical problems with the aircraft...he simply elected to abort the take-off climb out.... The local weather was; clear, visibility 20 miles, temperature 80 degrees F, dew point missing, wind missing, altimeter missing. At the time of the accident, the pilot had 1,328 total flight hours, 922 instructor flight hours and 25 flight hours in this make and model airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6391M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6391M-2015-05-11), registration cancelled 2015-05-11, S/N 15284705, 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: 15284705 - Airframe hours: 6585 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Raritan Valley Flying School - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 25, 1995, 25 hours before - Destination: 39N, PRINCETON, NJ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,328 total, 25 in this make and model, 922 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °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 19950825026009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950825026009A), Aug 25, 1995: Cessna 152, Orson, PA, Substantial damage. Landed by mistake in pasture. Tried depart. Aborted due trees. Ran into brush. Nosed up. Misjudged performance. 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.