Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Spring City, Pennsylvania 19475
Sunday, May 29, 1994 20:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS CRUISING TO HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT, WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN POWER. HE INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD, BUT THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE DURING THE LANDING. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AND OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY. THE AIRPLANE WAS REMOVED FROM THE FIELD, AND THE FAA CONDUCTED A SUCCESSFUL ENGINE START AND RUN-UP. THE FAA REPORT STATED: 'PILOT MISCALCULATED FLIGHT TIME FLOWN DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING AND INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, RESULTING IN FUEL SUPPLY EXHAUSTION, LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND THE SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/29/1994
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2015
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SPRING CITY
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 19475
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 398
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 29 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2110
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:16AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N68186
NTSB Number NYC94LA096
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 152
Aircraft Serial Number 15282171
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 15 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LANES VALLEY FORGE AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 767 COLLEGEVILLE RD
Aircraft Owner City COLLEGEVILLE
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19426
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CBE
Departure City CUMBERLAND
Departure State MD
Departure Country
Departure Time 1855
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code N10
Destination City COLLEGEVILLE
Destination State PA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --