Cessna 152 accident near Waycross, Georgia, September 1, 2004
On September 1, 2004 at about 1:34 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N89255, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waycross, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot misjudged the approach speed to touchdown, and the hydroplaning of the airplane during the landing roll resulted in the overrun of the runway surface and the subsequent collision with a fence. .
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 2004 · about 1:34 pm local time
- Place
- Waycross, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N89255 · no longer on the register · serial 15282691
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was not aware of the wet runway condition on the grass/sod runway surface prior to arriving at his destination airport. The pilot further stated that the active runway was orientated on a 020-degree magnetic heading, and the grass/sod surface was about 3000 feet long and 200 feet wide. The pilot also said, because of the 150-foot tall trees on the approach end of the runway, he established a steeper approach angle and faster approach speed than the normal profile for touchdown. According to the pilot the airplane touched down about 500 feet beyond the approach end of the runway. After landing the pilot recalled that airplane braking was not effective, and stated that the airplane began to "hydroplane", and he was not able to stop the airplane. The airplane continued off the departure end of the sod runway collided with a fence, and came to rest on Brunswick Highway in Waycross. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot,
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 325 hours in all; 152 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 55J Fernandina Beac FL at 12:45 pm
- Destination: GA47 Waycross GA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 30,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from KVAD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N89255 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.