Cessna 152 accident near Spencer, Massachusetts, February 24, 2004
On February 24, 2004 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N4669L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spencer, Massachusetts (Spencer airport). It was an instructional 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
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 24, 2004 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Spencer, Massachusetts · Spencer · 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
- N4669L · no longer on the register · serial 152-84211
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor was conducting an introductory flight for the passenger, when the engine lost power. He utilized the emergency procedures checklist, and the engine regained power; however, the engine's performance began to fluctuate from a partial power to no power condition. The flight instructor attempted to land at a nearby airport; however, he was not able to maintain altitude and performed a forced landing to a snow covered field. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. Compression was attained on all cylinders and a fuel sample did not reveal any contamination.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 822 hours in all; 220 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 732 as pilot in command; 513 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 17, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,681 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 3, 2003; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Amity Flight School, LLC.
The flight
- Departed from: ORH Worcester MA at 3:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from ORH
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.