Cessna 152 accident near Lusby, Maryland, March 14, 1982
On March 14, 1982 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N159TC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lusby, Maryland. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 1982 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Lusby, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N159TC · registry record · serial 152-80724
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT WAS ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM LEONARDTOWN, MD TO CUMBERLAND, MD TO LANCASTER, PA AND THEN RETURN TO LEONARDTOWN. BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE STUDENT WAS INSTRUCTED TO REFUEL AT CUMBERLAND OR LANCASTER BEFORE CONTINUING. THE STUDENT STATED THAT HE HAD REQUESTED SERVICES AT LANCASTER, BUT HE RECEIVED NO FUEL. HE CHECKED THE FUEL GAUGES. REPORTEDLY, THE LEFT AND RIGHT GUAGES INDICATED 3/4 AND 3/8 FULL, RESPECTIVELY. THE STUDENT CHECKED THE FUEL TANKS AND BELIEVED THE FUEL GAUGES WERE APPROXIMATELY CORRECT. HOWEVER, WHILE ON THE LAST LEG OF THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. DURING A FORCED LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT HIT A CONCRETE OBJECT AND OVERTURNED. THE 300 PLUS MILE FLIGHT WOULD HAVE TAKEN ABOUT 5 HOURS AND 50 MINUTES TO FLY. THIS WOULD HAVE REQUIRED ABOUT 28 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE USEFUL FUEL LOAD OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS 24.5 GALLONS. NO FUEL WAS PURCHASHED EN ROUTE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 47 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 22 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 600 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: St. Mary'S Aero Service
The flight
- Departed from: Lancaster PA
- Destination: Leonardtown MD
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.