Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Coatesville, Pennsylvania 19320
Friday, August 19, 1988 19:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PLT WAS RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT FOLLOWING A 1 HR LOCAL FLIGHT. HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND LOST POWER. THE PLT SELECTED A FIELD FOR A FORCED LANDING AND APPROACHED IT FROM WEST TO EAST. THE PLANE STRUCK A ROAD SHORT OF THE FIELD AND THE NOSE GEAR WAS SHEARED OFF. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED INTO A CORN FIELD AND CAME TO REST, NOSE DOWN, FACING WEST. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION BY AN FAA INSPECTOR REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY, AND THE RIGHT TANK HAD 3/4 OF A GALLON IN IT. A FUEL SAMPLE SHOWED NO CONTAMINATION. THE PILOT SAID HE ESTIMATED THAT BOTH TANKS WERE HALF FULL WHEN HE TOOK OFF. IN HIS REPORT, THE PILOT REPORTED 3 GALLONS ON BOARD AT TAKEOFF.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/19/1988
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City COATESVILLE
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 19320
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 8
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
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 Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 5000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1500
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2087
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 22 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38604
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:04PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N49142
NTSB Number NYC88LA222
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 II
Aircraft Series Identifier 152 II
Aircraft Serial Number 15281161
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 21 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 76
Airframe Hours 3687
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHESTER COUNTY AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 311
Aircraft Owner City COATESVILLE
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19320
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CHESTER CO. AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 311
Operator City COATESVILLE
Operator State PA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 19320
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 40N
Departure City CHESTER
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1830
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 40N
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --