Cessna 152 accident near Hickory, North Carolina, December 6, 1985
On December 6, 1985 at about 8:32 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N44687, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hickory, North Carolina (Hickory Muni 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
- December 6, 1985 · about 8:32 pm local time
- Place
- Hickory, North Carolina · Hickory Muni
- 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
- N44687 · no longer on the register · serial 15285674
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
STUDENT PILOT WAS RETURNING FROM A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. IN HIS REPORT THE STUDENT SAID HE FLEW A LONG FINAL WITH THE VASI SHOWING A PROPER DESCENT ANGLE. THE ACFT WAS LANDED WITH A SHALLOW FLARE TOUCHING DOWN IN A FLAT ATTITUDE. IT BOUNCED, BOUNCED AGAIN, AND COLLAPSED THE NOSE LANDING GEAR. STUDENT RECOMMENDED MORE INSTRUCTION IN LANDINGS AND RECOVERY FROM BOUNCED LANDINGS.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 47 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 9 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 1, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Catawba Valley Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: RDU Raleigh NC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 19, 4,399 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N44687 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.