Cessna 152 accident near Memphis, Tennessee, March 7, 1985
On March 7, 1985 at about 3:33 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N6489M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Memphis, Tennessee (Memphis International 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 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
- March 7, 1985 · about 3:33 pm local time
- Place
- Memphis, Tennessee · Memphis International
- 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
- N6489M · registry record · serial 15284753
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT BOUNCED DURING LNDG IN 10KT X-WIND. THE STU PLT WAS ON HIS 3RD UNSUPVR SOLO. THE ACFT WENT OFF THE RWY ON THE RT SIDE & COLLAPSED THE NOSE LNDG GEAR. THE STUDENT HAD 28 HRS TOTAL FLT TIME WITH A LOGBOOK RESTRICTION ENTERED BY HIS INSTRUCTOR TO RESTRICT LNDGS TO 12KT WIND WITH A MAX X-WIND COMPONENT OF 8KTS.
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: student
- Flight time: 28 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,461 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1985; 137 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 8,926 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from MEM
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.