Cessna 152 accident near Rocky Mount, North Carolina, November 6, 2004
On November 6, 2004 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N49196, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rocky Mount, North Carolina (Rocky Mount - Wilson Regional airport). It was an instructional 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's improper landing flare, and improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 6, 2004 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Rocky Mount, North Carolina · Rocky Mount - Wilson Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- 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
- N49196 · no longer on the register · serial 15281187
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that as the airplane touched down, a gust of wind caught the front of the airplane. He stated that it started "hopping." He stated that the nose wheel separated from the nose landing gear strut, and the propeller struck the runway surface. The airplane flipped over and came to rest inverted on the left side of the runway. The pilot stated that this accident may have been prevented if he had made a go-around with full power.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 43 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,799.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2004
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2CM (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KFAY Fayetteville NC at 5:30 pm
- Destination: RWI Rocky Mount NC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 22, 7,100 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from RWI
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.
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.