Cessna 152 accident near Cutchogue, New York, January 8, 1982
On January 8, 1982 at about 3:25 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N46681, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cutchogue, New York. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 8, 1982 · about 3:25 pm local time
- Place
- Cutchogue, New York · 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
- N46681 · no longer on the register · serial 15283090
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER EXPERIENCING A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN FLIGHT, THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT, AND HEADED BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT. THERE WAS A GRADUAL LOSS OF POWER AND THE INSTRUCTOR ELECTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE FIELD WAS SMALL, AND IN PLACES, IT HAD MUD UP TO ONE FOOT DEEP. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER AFTER ROLLING ABOUT 75 TO 100 FT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER ONE EXHAUST VALVE ADJUSTING SCREW NUT HAD COME OFF AND JAMMED THE INTAKE VALVE SPRING RESULTING IN A BENT INTAKE VALVE PUSH ROD. ALSO, THE EXHAUST VALVE ADJUSTING SCREW WAS 1 1/4 TURNS FROM COMPLETELY BACKING OFF THE ROCKER ARM. WHEN CHECKED, THE EXHAUST VALVE WOULD NOT OPEN. THE INTAKE VALVE WOULD BARELY OPEN DUE TO THE LARGE CLEARANCE PROVIDED BY THE BENT PUSH ROD.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,940 hours in all; 20 in the last 90 days; 1,970 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 484 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ambassador Leasing, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Westhampton Bea NY at 10:30 am
- Destination: Westhampton Bea NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.