Cessna 152 accident near Edgemere, Maryland, June 21, 1998
On June 21, 1998 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N95415, was substantially damaged in an accident near Edgemere, Maryland. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision which led to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1998 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Edgemere, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N95415 · no longer on the register · serial 15285891
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot performed a preflight inspection and found the fuel gauges read 1/2 and 3/4 respectively. He estimated that he would arrive at his destination with 45 minutes of reserve fuel and decided not to refuel the airplane prior to his departure. The pilot stated that while he was flying, the fuel gauges read empty and the engine quit. He decided to land in a bean field perpendicular to the plowed rows. Both fuel tanks were examined and found empty. According to the pilot's operating handbook (POH) for the airplane, the endurance for the airplane at 3,000 feet msl, and 65% power setting with full fuel was 3.6 hours. At the time of the accident, the Hobbs meter on the airplane indicated it had flown 3.6 hours since it had been 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
- Flight time: 257 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 222 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,808 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 29, 1998; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DYL Doylestown PA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: ANP Annapolis MD
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 pm from BWI, 27 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.