Cessna 172 N5154E

Summary

On 4 October 1996 at about 20:15 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N5154E, operated by American Images, was involved in an accident near Coudersport, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 October 1996 at 20:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Coudersport, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

41.7704, -78.0096

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N5154E

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

American Images

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bradford → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC97LA001

2 people were seriously injured.

the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision, and his failure to ensure that adequate airspeed would be maintained, while maneuvering at low altitude to photograph a residence. The rising terrain and lack of altitude were related factors.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was maneuvering the airplane at low altitude to photograph a private residence. The house was located at the base of a hollow with steeply rising terrain on both sides. The general area from the house to the accident site was a hollow (valley). A witness '...two to three hundred yards down the mountain from the accident site...' said he heard the airplane fly over. He said the airplane '...went overhead two or three times and I noticed they were quite low. The last time I saw them go over ... [the airplane] seemed to be working fine. I didn't perceive any motor problems. They gunned it to climb over the valley - seemed like they were climbing.' The witness said that he then heard '...a severe noise...' when the airplane crashed. Neither the pilot nor the passenger had any recollection of the accident. Examination of the aircraft did not disclose evidence of a mechanical malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.