Cessna 152 accident near Orford, New Hampshire, December 11, 1991
On December 11, 1991 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N48156, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orford, New Hampshire. 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 STUDENT PILOT BECAME LOST AND DISORIENTED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 11, 1991 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Orford, New Hampshire
- 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
- N48156 · registry record · serial 15283291
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT INTENDED TO FLY FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR. AFTER PRACTICING STALLS AND TURNS HE DECIDED TO DO VOR TRACKING, WHEN HE GOT LOST AND DISORIENTED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE HIS POSITION BY GROUND REFERENCE AND THE USE OF SECTIONAL CHARTS. HE ALSO ATTEMPTED RADIO CONTACT WITH FSS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE CONTACT. AFTER CLIMBING TO 6000 FEET AND FLYING ABOUT 80 MILES SOUTHEAST OF HIS DEPARTURE AIRPORT HE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE CONTACT. AFTER CLIMBING TO 6000 FEET AND FLYING ABOUT 80 MILES SOUTHEAST OF HIS DEPARTURE AIRPORT HE IDENTIFIED HIS LOCATION. AT THAT POINT, HE ESTIMATED HE WAS 1 HOUR FROM HIS HOME AIRPORT AND HAD ABOUT ONE AND HALF HOURS OF FUEL REMAINING. DURING THE RETURN FLIGHT TO THE HOME AIRPORT AND ABOUT 3 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES AFTER THE FLIGHT BEGAN THE FUEL WAS EXHAUSTED. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING AND HIT TREES.
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
- Flight time: 93 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 41 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,704 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 17, 1991; 103 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MPU Montpelier VT at 3:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°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.