Cessna 152 accident near Norfolk, Virginia, May 15, 1993
On May 15, 1993 at about 9:05 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N68910, was substantially damaged in an accident near Norfolk, Virginia. It was an instructional 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
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 1993 · about 9:05 pm local time
- Place
- Norfolk, Virginia
- 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
- N68910 · no longer on the register · serial 15282397
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS WAS THE STUDENT PILOT'S LAST LONG SOLO CROSS COUNTRY TOWARDS ATTAINING HIS PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE HAD COMPLETED THE PREFLIGHT PLANNING, AND HIS INSTRUCTOR APPROVED THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. THE INSTRUCTOR ALSO ADVISED THE STUDENT THAT HE SHOULD, 'TOP OFF THE TANKS.' THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DUE TO NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY TO FILL THE TANKS HE ADDED 5 GALLONS OF FUEL, WHICH HE CONSIDERED WAS ADEQUATE FOR HIS RETURN FLIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT ON HIS RETURN FLIGHT, HE MADE SOME ADDITIONAL LANDINGS EN ROUTE THAT WERE NOT CALCULATED PREVIOUSLY. DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT ABOUT 2500 FEET AND 15 MILES SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A MARSHY FIELD AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED A TOTAL OF ABOUT 1 PINT OF FUEL IN BOTH TANKS. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HE HAD ADDED MORE FUEL.
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: 70 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,049 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 1, 1993; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rick Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: ISO Kinston NC at 7:30 pm
- Destination: PHF Newport News VA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:12 pm from ORF, 1 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 N68910 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.