# NTSB ATL86FA066: Cessna 152, N25277, Lexington, NC, January 30, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 29, 1986, 23:30 local (Jan 30, 1986, 04:30 UTC)
- Place: Lexington, NC
- Coordinates: 35.800632, -80.250633 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8006&lon=-80.2506&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/800) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6923
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL86FA066
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6923/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL86FA066

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, other
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE PLT/MECHANIC HAD COMPLETED A TOP OVERHAUL ON THE ACFT ENG AND WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING A NIGHT MAINTENANCE FLIGHT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE IN A WOODED AREAAPRX ONE MILE FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF RWY 26. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY ACFT/ENG FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE PLT WAS A RECENTLY CERTIFICATED PVT PLT WITH A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 72 HOURS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N25277 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15280567
- Airframe hours: 3187
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 118 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Fred Smith Enterprises
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, September 16, 1985, 93 hours before
- Airport: EXX, Lexington, runway 26, 3,300 × 50 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 72 total, 48 in this make and model, 41 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: INT

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19860129001739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860129001739A), Jan 29, 1986: Cessna 152, Lexington, NC, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Crashed on a test flight. Propeller indicated no power at impact, yet nothing found to stop engine.

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.

---
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.