Cessna 152 accident near Pepperell, Massachusetts, October 24, 1987
On October 24, 1987 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N310DW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pepperell, Massachusetts. 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
- October 24, 1987 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Pepperell, Massachusetts
- 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
- N310DW · no longer on the register · serial 15285761
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A STUDENT PILOT ON A CROSS COUNTRY TRAINING FLIGHT EXPERIENCED FUEL EXHAUSTION AT ABOUT 3500 FEET. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER HE CONTACTED APPROACH CONTROL ON 121.5 BUT DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO MAKE IT TO AN AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A CORN FIELD. THE ACFT FUEL TANKS HOLD 24.5 GALS OF USEABLE FUEL. THE ACFT BURNS 6 GPH AT 2400 RPM AT 4000 FT. MANY FACTORS CAN ALTER FUEL CONSUMPTION SUCH AS LEANING TECHNIQUE AND CONDITION OF ENGINE. THIS ENG HAD 1372 HOURS FLT TIME. ON THIS FLT THE PLT FLEW 4 PLUS HRS PRIOR TO THE LOSS OF POWER.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 56 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 13 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,373 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 6, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ALB Albany NY at 8:30 pm
- Destination: ASH Nashua NH
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 250° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:45 pm from BED
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.