Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

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.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

November 13, 1993 · Cessna 152 · N46897

Riverhead, NY

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 13, 1993
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Riverhead, NY
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N46897
Operator
Metro Aviation
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
BFO94LA009

WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT OVER THE LONG ISLAND SOUND, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART AND THE AIRPLANE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH AIRSPEED OR ALTITUDE TO REACH LAND. THE PILOT DITCHED THE AIRPLANE IN THE LONG ISLAND SOUND. THE AIRPLANE WAS REMOVED FROM THE WATER AND INSPECTED. A TOTAL OF ONE GALLON OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS AND THE GASCULATOR CONTAINED ONLY WATER. NO AIRFRAME ANOMALIES WERE NOTED. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AND THE OIL WAS CHANGED. THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND RAN WITH NO ANOMALIES NOTED. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR'S RECORDS AND THE AIRPLANE'S HOUR READING AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN ABOUT 3.4 HOURS SINCE IT WAS LAST REFUELED.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION WAS INADEQUATE WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.

Full Narrative

On Saturday, November 13, 1993, at 1217 hours eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N46897, operated by Metro Aviation located at the Mac Arthur Airport, Long Island, New York, and piloted by Igor Videgain of Brooklyn, New York, lost total engine power and was ditched in the Long Island Sound near Riverhead, New York. The pilot and sole passenger were not injured. The cross country flight departed Marston Mills, Massachusetts, and was destined for the Mac Arthur Airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was on file for the cross country flight. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated on his accident report form that he departed the Mac Arthur Airport on November 12, 1993, at 1325 hours and landed at the Marston Mills Airport at 1445 hours. He stated that he stayed the night on Cape Cod and then departed Marston Mills Airport on November 13, 1993, at 1035 hours, for the Mac Arthur Airport. The pilot stated that while being vectored over the Long Island Sound to the Mac Arthur Airport by the New York Air Traffic Approach Control controller, the airplane's engine lost total power. The pilot stated that efforts to restart the engine failed and he trimmed the "...A/C for best glide speed (60 KTS), and prepared for possible water ditching." He stated that he tried to glide the airplane to the Calverton Airport but did not have enough airspeed or altitude to make it. The pilot stated that he prepared his passenger for a water ditching and then ditched the airplane in the Long Island Sound. He stated that he and the passenger exited the airplane and swam to shore with the assistance of three people who witnessed the accident. According to a Federal Aviation Administration Safety Inspector, the airplane was retrieved from the water and brought to East Way Aviation at the Mac Arthur Airport. Examination of the airplane revealed that there was about one gallon of fuel in the left wing fuel tank and the right wing fuel tank contained only water. The gascolator contained water. No airframe anomalies were noted. Under the supervision of the FAA, a mechanic from East Way Aviation changed the airplane's engine oil and allowed the magnetos to dry. The engine was started and ran without any anomalies noted. According to Metro Aviation's fuel records, the airplane was "topped off" at an airplane hour reading of 4442.9, and was checked out by the pilot. After the accident, the airplane's hour reading was 4446.3. The airplane was flown about 3.4 hours since it was last refueled.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:17 EST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN46897
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorMetro Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-L2C · Reciprocating · 110
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 27 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind150° @ 12 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingOvercast 15000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point52 / 45 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data