Cessna 152 accident near Lexington, North Carolina, January 30, 1986
On January 30, 1986 at about 4:30 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N25277, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lexington, North Carolina (Lexington airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- January 30, 1986 · about 4:30 am local time
- Place
- Lexington, North Carolina · Lexington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N25277 · no longer on the register · serial 15280567
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT/MECHANIC HAD COMPLETED A TOP OVERHAUL ON THE ACFT ENG AND WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING A NIGHT MAINTENANCE FLIGHT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE IN A WOODED AREAAPRX ONE MILE FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF RWY 26. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY ACFT/ENG FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE PLT WAS A RECENTLY CERTIFICATED PVT PLT WITH A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 72 HOURS.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 72 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 41 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,187 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 16, 1985; 93 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 26, 3,300 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; not recorded at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 am from INT
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.