# NTSB SEA95LA035: Cessna 152, N24741, Lehi, UT, December 29, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 29, 1994, 13:50 local (20:50 UTC) - Place: Lehi, UT - Location: 40.4171° N, 111.8711° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lehi, UT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4171&lon=-111.8711&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 31, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42098 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42098/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA035 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE ABOVE THE TERRAIN. FACTORS INCLUDE THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY BECOMING LOST/DISORIENTED, HIS IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION TO ATTEMPT TO MANEUVER THROUGH UNFAMILIAR MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN TO HIS ORIGINAL DESTINATION, AND HIGH VEGETATION AT THE SITE OF THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) ## Analysis WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FLY FROM SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH TO PROVO, UTAH, THE PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED AND ENTERED UNFAMILIAR MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. EVEN THOUGH FLIGHT IN THE AREA WAS RESTRICTED BY VARIABLE CEILINGS AND VISIBILITY, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE ON TO HIS ORIGINAL DESTINATION BY MANEUVERING AT LOW LEVEL. WHILE CROSSING A RIDGE, THE AIRCRAFT'S ELEVATOR IMPACTED THE TERRAIN, AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO FLY OUT OF THE AREA, BUT BECAUSE OF CONTROLLABILITY PROBLEMS, HE ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON THE BRUSH COVERED TERRAIN. ## Factual narrative On December 29, 1994, approximately 1350 mountain standard time, a Cessna 152, N24741, impacted the terrain while on a flight from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Provo, Utah. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which departed Salt Lake Municipal #2 about 30 minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, while en route to the Provo area he got off course and entered unfamiliar mountainous terrain. Because of variable ceilings and visibility in the area, the pilot attempted to continue to his destination by maneuvering at low level. While attempting to clear a ridge, the aircraft collided with something on the ground, and sustained substantial damage to the area around the elevator. The pilot was able to keep the aircraft in the air, but experienced great difficulty with directional control. For about two minutes after the collision, the pilot attempted to fly out of the area, but ultimately elected to put the aircraft down in the scrub brush covered terrain. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24741](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24741-1995-12-14), registration cancelled 1995-12-14, S/N 15280350 (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: 15280350 - Airframe hours: 5600 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Clb Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, October 22, 1994, 63 hours before - Departed: U42, SALT LAKE CITY, UT - Destination: PVU, PROVO, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 71 total, 52 in this make and model, 37 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 5 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 34 °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 19941229043289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941229043289A), Dec 29, 1994: Cessna 152, Lehi, UT, Substantial damage. Scud running low level struck something on ground. Unable to control the 152 or clear terrain. Landed in brush. 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.