# NTSB FTW88DPJ08: Cessna 152, N68700, Heavener, OK, July 20, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: July 20, 1988, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Heavener, OK
- Coordinates: 34.889575, -94.599121 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8896&lon=-94.5991&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22458
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88DPJ08
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22458/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88DPJ08

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - normal
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING A CROSS COUNTRY TRAINING FLIGHT, THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT FLEW INTO IMC CONDITIONS WHILE DESCENDING. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB INTO VFR CONDITIONS BUT WHEN THAT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL A DESCENT WAS BEGUN IN AN EFFORT TO BREAKOUT INTO VFR CONDITIONS. DURING THE DESCENT THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N68700](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68700-1991-02-06), registration cancelled 1991-02-06, S/N 15285330 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15285330
- Airframe hours: 2227
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Nichollos Aviation Inc.
- Registered owner: Gulf Aire Enterprises Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 1988, 41 hours before
- Departed: LFK, LUFKIN, TX
- Destination: M39, MENA, AR
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 127 total, 127 in this make and model, 38 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day

## 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 19880720048739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880720048739A), Jul 20, 1988: Cessna 152, Heavener, OK, Substantial damage. Flew into clouds near destination. Descended into the side of a ridge trying to get below cloud layer.

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.

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