# NTSB NYC97LA001: Cessna 172, N5154E, Coudersport, PA, October 4, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 4, 1996, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Coudersport, PA - Coordinates: 41.770401, -78.00959 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7704&lon=-78.0096&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report August 29, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39292 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA001 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39292/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA001 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision, and his failure to ensure that adequate airspeed would be maintained, while maneuvering at low altitude to photograph a residence. The rising terrain and lack of altitude were related factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - low altitude flight/maneuver - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot was maneuvering the airplane at low altitude to photograph a private residence. The house was located at the base of a hollow with steeply rising terrain on both sides. The general area from the house to the accident site was a hollow (valley). A witness '...two to three hundred yards down the mountain from the accident site...' said he heard the airplane fly over. He said the airplane '...went overhead two or three times and I noticed they were quite low. The last time I saw them go over ... [the airplane] seemed to be working fine. I didn't perceive any motor problems. They gunned it to climb over the valley - seemed like they were climbing.' The witness said that he then heard '...a severe noise...' when the airplane crashed. Neither the pilot nor the passenger had any recollection of the accident. Examination of the aircraft did not disclose evidence of a mechanical malfunction. ## Factual narrative On October 4, 1996, at 1615 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N5154E, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees and descended into terrain near Coudersport, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot and the passenger/photographer both received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial photography flight that departed Bradford Airport at approximately 1415. No flight plan was filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The purpose of the flight was to photograph a private residence in Coudersport. The house was located at the base of a hollow with steeply rising terrain on both sides. The general direction from the house to the accident site runs up the hollow. The distance between the two sites was approximately one-half mile. Both sites were located on a mountain that had a peak elevation of 2514 feet msl. In a telephone interview, a witness who was 600-900 feet from the accident site stated: "...heard the airplane fly ... overhead two or three times and I noticed they were quite low. The last time I saw them go over ...[the airplane] seemed to be working fine. I didn't perceive any motor problems. They gunned it to climb over the valley - seemed like they were climbing." The witness also stated that he heard "...a severe noise..." when the plane crashed. He said that when he arrived at the wreckage he found two men trapped inside; "...the man I couldn't see said, 'Pull up and land on the road'." An examination of the wreckage by FAA Inspectors and representatives of the airframe and powerplant manufacturers revealed no pre-impact anomalies. One FAA Inspector reported: "The aircraft was found in an inverted position and was substantially damaged. The distance from the first sign of impact to the aircraft was 60 feet. The propeller was buried making it impossible to view the front, however propeller cuts in the trees were found. The amount of fuel on board could not be determined because both tanks were damaged, but the odor of fuel was present. A review of the maintenance records and a control continuity check were both satisfactory." Interviews with the pilot and the passenger revealed that neither had any recollection of events from the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5154E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5154E-1997-06-12), registration cancelled 1997-06-12, S/N 17271740 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17271740 - Airframe hours: 4483 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: American Images - Registered owner: Duffys Aircraft Sales And Leas - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 4, 1995, 125 hours before - Departed: BFD, BRADFORD, PA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 795 total, 218 in this make and model, 672 as pilot in command, 454 in the last 90 days, 137 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 6 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KBF, 35 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 19961004031019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961004031019A), Oct 4, 1996: Cessna 172N, Coudersport, PA, Destroyed. Crashed into a wooded 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. --- 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.