# Accident 19900301008619A: Cessna 152, Grafton, WV, March 1, 1990

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 1, 1990, 10:00 local time
- Place: Grafton, WV
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.3392° N, 80.0097° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3392&lon=-80.0097&mi=10
- Aircraft: N65538, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65538-2007-11-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 152 (registry code 2071835, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Reported engine: LYC O235L2C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 17 total, 17 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB BFO90LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90LA031) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900301008619A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ENGINE FAILED IN PRACTICE AREA. NOSED UP LANDING ON HILLSIDE. CONDITIONS GOOD FOR CARBURETOR ICING. NO MECHANICAL.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB BFO90LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90LA031), Mar 1, 1990: Cessna 152 (N65538), Grafton, WV, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT, WHEN OPERATING AT REDUCED POWER IN CONDITIONS WHICH WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICE.

## Other reports on N65538 (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19890831045399I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890831045399I), Aug 31, 1989: Cessna 152 (N65538), Clarksburg, WV. Left magneto RPM dropped on runup. Cleaned plugs. Engine quit on takeoff. Carburetor heat box had failed.
- [Incident 19830315012339I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830315012339I), Mar 15, 1983: Cessna 152 (N65538), Tulsa, OK, Minor damage. Aircraft dropped to runway nose wheel first. Landed in gusty wind. Impact collapsed nose gear. CFI did not correct.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.