Cessna 152 accident near Leesburg, Virginia, November 10, 1983
On November 10, 1983, a Cessna 152, registered N6470Q, was destroyed in an accident near Leesburg, Virginia (Leesburg Municipal airport). It was an instructional 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
- November 10, 1983
- Place
- Leesburg, Virginia · Leesburg Municipal
- 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
- N6470Q · no longer on the register · serial 15285275
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT ABOUT 1,000 FT AGL AFTER TAKEOFF FROM RWY 17 THE ENG COWLING OPENED ON THE LEFT SIDE & BEGAN FLAPPING. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL & RETURNED TO THE ARPT ON A DOWNWIND FOR RWY 17. WHEN SHE SAW THAT THE ACFT WAS TOO LOW TO MAKE THE FIELD, SHE TURNED OFF THE FUEL, MIXTURE & CARB HEAT. THE ACFT STRUCK A UTILITY POLE WITH THE LEFT WING PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. THE CFI STATED THAT AS FAR AS SHE CAN REMEMBER, 'NEITHER SHE OR THE STUDENT TOUCHED THE POWER ALTHOUGH THE THROTTLE MAY HAVE VIBRATED OUT A LITTLE.' PRIOR TO THE FLT, A MECHANIC HAD LOOSENED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENG COWLING TO CHECK A LANDING LIGHT WIRE PLUG CONNECTION. HE CLOSED THE COWLING BUT DID NOT FASTEN IT. THE STUDENT PERFORMED A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OFTHE ACFT BUT DID NOT DISCOVER THE LOOSE FASTENERS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 410 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 84 in the last 90 days; 265 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 880 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 13, 1983; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Janelle Aviation INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from IAD, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.