NYC08FA238 · Cessna 152

The airline transport pilot took both a written and practical examination before he was permitted to rent the accident airplane. The examinations were performed in the accident airplane in the morning, with no anomalies noted, but the pilot delayed his solo departure until the afternoon due to weather. Radar data from the Federal Aviation Administration, for the last minute of the afternoon flight, revealed a target that was identified as the accident airplane in cruise flight at about 2,400 feet, on an approximate heading of 020 degrees magnetic. The last three radar returns depicted the airplane in a descending left turn as follows: at 1422:19, 2,400 feet, at 1422:28, 2,200 feet, and at 1422:33, at 1,700 feet. A review of voice recordings revealed that the pilot transmitted the airplane's registration number and then a "mayday" three times before voice communication was lost. There were no witnesses; however, examination of the wreckage and the crash site revealed evidence consistent with a power-on, near-vertical descent and no preimpact mechanical anomalies. Interviews with the pilot’s roommates revealed that the pilot had been interviewed by federal investigators at his place of employment the previous evening, and upon his arrival home he asked where he could rent a small airplane. Concerned for his personal welfare, the roommates drove to the departure airport and spoke with the pilot upon the completion of his practical exam, and expressed their concern. The pilot declined their invitation for lunch, and later departed on the accident flight.

Verbatim NTSB analysis and probable cause from the NTSB dataset