Cessna 152 accident near Bolivar, Tennessee, March 13, 1987
On March 13, 1987 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N25503, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bolivar, Tennessee (Bolivar-Hardeman 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 13, 1987 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bolivar, Tennessee · Bolivar-Hardeman · map
- 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
- N25503 · no longer on the register · serial 15280699
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT REPORTED THAT HE FLARED EXCESSIVELY DURING TOUCHDOWN WHILE PRACTICING A TOUCH & GO LANDING, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO BALLOON. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN AND HEADED TOWARD THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE STUDENT PLT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE AIRPLANE USING RIGHT RUDDER, AND BRAKE IT TO A STOP. HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY INTO SOFT DIRT WHERE IT NOSED OVER INVERTED.
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: 55 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,655 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bolivar Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 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.
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.