Cessna 152 accident near Riverhead, New York, November 13, 1993
On November 13, 1993 at about 5:17 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N46897, was substantially damaged in an accident near Riverhead, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION WAS INADEQUATE WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 1993 · about 5:17 pm local time
- Place
- Riverhead, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N46897 · no longer on the register · serial 15283136
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT OVER THE LONG ISLAND SOUND, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART AND THE AIRPLANE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH AIRSPEED OR ALTITUDE TO REACH LAND. THE PILOT DITCHED THE AIRPLANE IN THE LONG ISLAND SOUND. THE AIRPLANE WAS REMOVED FROM THE WATER AND INSPECTED. A TOTAL OF ONE GALLON OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS AND THE GASCULATOR CONTAINED ONLY WATER. NO AIRFRAME ANOMALIES WERE NOTED. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AND THE OIL WAS CHANGED. THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND RAN WITH NO ANOMALIES NOTED. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR'S RECORDS AND THE AIRPLANE'S HOUR READING AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN ABOUT 3.4 HOURS SINCE IT WAS LAST REFUELED.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 350 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,446 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 15, 1993; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Metro Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 2B1 Marstin Mills MA at 3:35 pm
- Destination: ISP Mac Arthur Arp NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from FOK, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.