Cessna 152 accident near North Andover, Massachusetts, January 29, 1997
On January 29, 1997 at about 3:04 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N67898, was destroyed in an accident near North Andover, Massachusetts (Lawrence airport). It was a personal 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
Fuel vents blocked by frozen moisture which resulted in restricted fuel flow to the engine and subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 29, 1997 · about 3:04 pm local time
- Place
- North Andover, Massachusetts · Lawrence
- 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
- N67898 · no longer on the register · serial 15282084
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on a 2 mile final approach to a runway, the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot was unable to restore full power, and could not maintain altitude. The airplane then struck trees about 50 feet above the ground. During preflight inspection, the right wing fuel tank drain was frozen, and had to be heated. The first two fuel samples revealed a small amount of water, but the third and fourth samples were clear. The left tank drain was not frozen, and contained a small amount of water. No water was detected in the filter drain. Examination of the wreckage, while the outside ambient temperature (OAT) was below freezing, revealed a small amount of water and contaminants in the carburetor bowl, and the fuel drain. When the fuel caps were removed, the sounds of the tanks expanding from the in rushing air were heard. After the wings were removed and placed in a heated hanger, approximately 1 cup of dirty water was found in the fuel tanks. The engine was test run satisfactorily. At the time of the accident, the OAT had been below freezing for the last 24 hours.
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
- Flight time: 66 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 30 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,339 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 33 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: BED Bedford MA at 2:40 pm
- Destination: LWM Lawrence MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,901 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from LWM, 1 miles away
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.