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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

March 23, 1994 · Cessna 152 · N6460L

Amherst, MA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 23, 1994
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Amherst, MA
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N6460L
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC94LA071

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. HE REPORTED THAT HE 'BECAME LOST.' HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HIS POSITION, AND HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN CONTACTING ATC FOR ASSISTANCE. WHEN THE AIRPLANE FUEL SUPPLY BECAME LOW, HE INITIATED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE NOSE WHEEL ENCOUNTERED SOFT TERRAIN, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S INADVERTENTLY BECOMING LOST, AND THE SUBSEQUENT PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A FIELD, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH SOFT TERRAIN AND NOSE OVER.

Full Narrative

On Wednesday, March 23, 1994, at 1620 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N646OL, sustained substantial damage during a precautionary landing in a field in Amherst, Massachusetts. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot was conducting a solo cross country flight from Manchester, New Hampshire to Schenectady, New York. He stated that he "became lost and disorientated." He also stated that he was "unable to raise anyone on [the] radio." He became concerned that he would exhaust the airplane fuel supply, so he elected to perform a precautionary landing in a field. During the landing roll, the nose wheel collided with soft terrain, and the airplane nosed over and damaged the engine fire wall and empennage. Mr. Joseph S. Santos, Airworthiness Inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration, stated in his report: According to the student pilot he became lost enroute and when he looked at the fuel gages he thought he was running out of fuel. As a result he made a precautionary landing. On the scene inspection of the aircraft did not reveal any evidence of any airframe or powerplant malfunc- tion. At the time of the accident, the student pilot had a total of 74 hours flight time.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:20 EST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN6460L
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235 · Reciprocating · 110
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 44 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility25 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data