Cessna 152 N67898

Summary

On 29 January 1997 at about 15:04 local time, a Cessna 152 registered N67898 was involved in an accident near North Andover, Massachusetts, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 January 1997 at 15:04

Classification

Accident

Location

North Andover, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Lawrence (LWM)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 152

Registration

N67898

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bedford → Lawrence

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC97LA049

Nobody was injured.

Fuel vents blocked by frozen moisture which resulted in restricted fuel flow to the engine and subsequent loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

While on a 2 mile final approach to a runway, the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot was unable to restore full power, and could not maintain altitude. The airplane then struck trees about 50 feet above the ground. During preflight inspection, the right wing fuel tank drain was frozen, and had to be heated. The first two fuel samples revealed a small amount of water, but the third and fourth samples were clear. The left tank drain was not frozen, and contained a small amount of water. No water was detected in the filter drain. Examination of the wreckage, while the outside ambient temperature (OAT) was below freezing, revealed a small amount of water and contaminants in the carburetor bowl, and the fuel drain. When the fuel caps were removed, the sounds of the tanks expanding from the in rushing air were heard. After the wings were removed and placed in a heated hanger, approximately 1 cup of dirty water was found in the fuel tanks. The engine was test run satisfactorily. At the time of the accident, the OAT had been below freezing for the last 24 hours.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.