Cessna 152 accident near White Sulphur S, West Virginia, April 30, 1982
On April 30, 1982 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N49924, was destroyed in an accident near White Sulphur S, West Virginia (White Sulphur Springs airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 30, 1982 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- White Sulphur S, West Virginia · White Sulphur Springs
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N49924 · no longer on the register · serial 15281397
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF ON RUNWAY 26 WITH A FULL LOAD OF FUEL, ONE PASSENGER, AND LUGGAGE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT OR NEAR ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT LIMIT. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 60 DEGREES. THE AIRPORT ELEVATION WAS 1801 FT MSL AND TWO RIDGE LINES RAN PARALLEL TO THE RUNWAY. THE RIDGE TO THE SOUTH OF THE RUNWAY ROSE RAPIDLY TO AN ELEVATION OF 3100 FT MSL. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT MADE A LEFT TURN. HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AND AIR CURRENTS OVER RAPIDLY RISING TERRAIN. THE AIRCRAFT MUSHED INTO THE TOPS OF THE TREES AT AN ESTIMATED SPEED OF 50 KNOTS. THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST FLIGHT IN AND OUT OF THIS AIRPORT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,076 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 960 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,680 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Haps Aerial Enterprises
The flight
- Departed from: SSU White Sulphur S WV at 2:34 pm
- Destination: Morehead KY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 140°F (60°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.