Cessna 152 accident near Croom, Maryland, September 8, 1991
On September 8, 1991 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N48430, was substantially damaged in an accident near Croom, Maryland (Potomac Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE AN ADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY WAS ON BOARD TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1991 · about 7:00 pm local time · cases in 1991
- Place
- Croom, Maryland · Potomac Airpark · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N48430 · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS SCHEDULED TO TAKE THE PRIVATE PILOT TEST. HOWEVER, THE TEST WAS RESCHEDULED AFTER THE EXAMINER DETERMINED THAT HE WAS ABOUT 2 HOURS SHORT OF SOLO TIME. THE PILOT DECIDED TO FLY SO HE COULD FAMILIARIZE HIMSELF WITH THE AREA AND ACQUIRE THE REQUIRED FLIGHT TIME. THE PILOT VISUALLY CHECKED AND USED THE FUEL GAGE TO DETERMINE THE GAGES WERE HALF FULL. ABOUT 2 HOURS INTO THE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. HE TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL SO HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD. HE STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
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: 61 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 18 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,516 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 8, 1991; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WOO Freeway MD at 2:55 pm
- Destination: W28 Friendly MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from DCA, 8 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N48430 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N48430: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Cessna 152 1,636 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,685 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C 84 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Sequim Valley Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Maryland 837 since 1982 · 111 in the last ten years
- Maryland 2,348 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N48430 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/BFO91LA080.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.