Cessna 152 accident near Cuddy, Pennsylvania, July 9, 1993
On July 9, 1993 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N46116, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cuddy, Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh Metro airport). 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
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING FLARE/TOUCHDOWN. THE PROXIMITY OF THE RAVINE AND TREES TO THE RUNWAY WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 1993 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Cuddy, Pennsylvania · Pittsburgh Metro · 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
- N46116 · registry record · serial 1528300
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING FLARE OVER RUNWAY 31, THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO DRIFT TO RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT SHE TRIED TO CORRECT FOR THE DRIFT AND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND ROLLED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT INTO A WOODED RAVINE. THE REPORTED WINDS WERE COMING FROM A HEADING OF 240 DEGREES AT A VELOCITY OF 5 KNOTS. THE PILOT SAID THAT THIS FLIGHT WAS HER SECOND SUPERVISED SOLO AND AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT SHE HAD A TOTAL OF 41 FLIGHT HOURS.
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: 41 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,850 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 6, 1993; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pegasus Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 8G4 at 11:40 pm
- Destination: 8G4
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 4,985 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from AGC, 20 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.