Cessna 152 II accident near Pembroke, Kentucky, October 22, 1986
On October 22, 1986 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152 II, registered N5083L, was destroyed in an accident near Pembroke, Kentucky. 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
- October 22, 1986 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pembroke, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 II · all 152 IIs on the register
- Registration
- N5083L · no longer on the register · serial 15284249
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING THE OWNER/OPERATOR'S PRIVATE LANDING STRIP. WITNESSES RPRTD HEARING A SUDDEN DECREASE IN ENG POWER, THEN A SHORT TIME LATER, THEY HEARD THE ENG 'FIRE' OR RESTART MOMENTARILY, BUT DECREASE IN POWER AGAIN. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED IN A STEEP LEFT WING LOW DESCENT, JUST BEFORE IT WENT OUT OF SIGHT BEHIND TREES & CRASHED. IT CRASHED IN A LARGE CORN FIELD WHERE IT WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. THE IMPACT SEQUENCE LEFT MARKS FOR ABOUT 100 FT. NO REASON WAS FOUND FOR THE RPRTD LOSS OF POWER. THE NON-CERTIFICATED PASSENGER WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT SEAT. RPRTDLY, HE OFTEN ACCOMPANIED THE PLT ON FLTS, & ON OCCASIONS, WAS ALLOWED TO CONTROL THE ACFT. TOXICOLOGY CHECKS OF FLUIDS FROM THE PLT'S STOMACH & LIVER SHOWED ALCOHOL LVLS OF 0.118 MG% (O.118%).
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,616 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 9, 1986; 4 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 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; not recorded at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from HOP, 13 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.