Cessna 152 accident near Memphis, Tennessee, July 20, 1985
On July 20, 1985 at about 3:52 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N89634, was destroyed in an accident near Memphis, Tennessee (Gen Dewitt Spain airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- July 20, 1985 · about 3:52 am local time
- Place
- Memphis, Tennessee · Gen Dewitt Spain
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N89634 · no longer on the register · serial 15282809
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT NOSED OVER DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF PWR. PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO PRACTICE NIGHT TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. ON THE FIFTH TAKEOFF, AT APRX 200 FT AGL, A TOTAL LOSS OF PWR WAS EXPERIENCED. THE ACFT CONTACTED AN EMBANKMENT DURING THE FORCED LANDING, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE STUDENT PLT ON BOARD REPORTEDHE HAD A PROBLEM WITH PWR DURING TAKEOFF IN N89634 ON THE PREVIOUS DAY. AN A&P MECHANIC INSPECTED THE ACFT AND TEST FLEW IT AFTER THE INCIDENT BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE PWR LOSS. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ACFT AND ENGINE FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION.
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 multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 554 hours in all; 228 in this make and model; 140 in the last 90 days; 360 as pilot in command; 228 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,161 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 4, 1985; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: West Memphis Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: M01 Memphis TN at 4:30 am
- Destination: AWM West Memphis AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 am from MEM, 10 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.