Cessna 152 accident near Wilkesboro, North Carolina, February 21, 1986
On February 21, 1986 at about 5:50 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N93567, was destroyed in an accident near Wilkesboro, North Carolina (Wilkesboro airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- February 21, 1986 · about 5:50 am local time
- Place
- Wilkesboro, North Carolina · Wilkesboro · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N93567 · no longer on the register · serial 152 85517
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING ERRATICALLY OVER THE TOWN. IMC EXISTED IN THE AREA AT THE TIME. THE STUDENT PLT DID NOT HAVE ANY INSTRUMENT FLIGHT TIME LOGGED AND HIS PAX WAS NOT A PLT. THE ACFT WAS IN A DESCENDING TURN WHEN IT FLEW INTO THE TREES ON THE SIDE OF A HILL. THE STUDENT PLT WORKED FOR THE OWNER OF THE ACFT BUT DID NOT HAVE A FLT SCHEDULED FOR THAT DATE.
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: 22 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 728 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 1986; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wilkes Aviation Center,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: IKB Wilkesboro NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded at 500 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 am from GSO, 60 miles away
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.