Cessna 152 accident near Gloucester, Virginia, September 20, 1992
On September 20, 1992 at about 6:46 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N46076, was destroyed in an accident near Gloucester, Virginia. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RECOVER FROM AN INTENTIONAL STALL, WHICH RESLUTED IN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. PILOT INEXPERIENCE IS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 1992 · about 6:46 pm local time
- Place
- Gloucester, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N46076 · no longer on the register · serial 15282996
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 26 HOUR STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HER THIRD SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT, THE FIRST OUTSIDE THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN. SHE WAS INSTRUCTED TO PRACTICE SEVERAL MANEUVERS, INCLUDING POWER OFF IMMINENT STALLS, WHICH SHE HAD PERFORMED ON A DUAL FLIGHT, EARLIER ON THE ACCIDENT DATE. RADAR DATA SHOWS THE AIRPLANE DOING SEVERAL MANUEVERS, INCLUDING SLOW FLIGHT AT AN AIRSPEED OF ABOUT 65 KNOTS. PRECEDING THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRPLANE WAS AT 2400 FEET MSL AND SLOWED TO 41 KNOTS AIRSPEED. THE AIRPLANE THEN DESCENDED 1000 FEET IN ABOUT 12 SECONDS BEFORE RADAR DATA WAS LOST. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA, STRIKING TREES IN A STEEP DESCENT ANGLE. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE FLAPS WERE FULL DOWN.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 26 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,084 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 1, 1992; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Usaf Langley Aero Club
The flight
- Departed from: LFI Langley Afb VA at 6:05 pm
- Destination: LFI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from PHF, 25 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.
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.