Amateur-built 5151 accident near Erie, Pennsylvania, June 19, 1992
On June 19, 1992 at about 7:45 pm local time, a amateur-built 5151, registered N5151M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Erie, Pennsylvania. It was a personal 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
SEIZURE OF THE #2 PISTON WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOST OF ENGINE POWER AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1992 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Erie, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 5151
- Registration
- N5151M · registry record · serial 5151-2676117
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS ON CLIMBOUT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING GOOD, AND THEN IT LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD, BUT LANDED SHORT AND STRUCK TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE #2 CYLINDER PISTON HAD SEIZED.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,970 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 1900
- Maximum gross weight: 641 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ERI at 7:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.