Cessna C-152 accident near Bunn, North Carolina, June 2, 1987
On June 2, 1987 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna C-152, registered N46411, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bunn, North Carolina. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- June 2, 1987 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Bunn, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-152
- Registration
- N46411 · no longer on the register · serial 15283044
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING A PRECAUTIONARY LDG IN A SOFT, DIRT FIELD. THE PLT AND A MECHANIC HAD BEEN FERRYING THE AIRPLANE BACK TO ITS BASE AFTER REPLACING THE STARTER AND BATTERY SOLENOIDS, AND THE BATTERY. THE PRE-FLT RUN-UP HAD REVEALED NO PROBLEMS AND THE AMMETER HAD INDICATED A 'FULL CHARGE'. ACCORDING TO THE PLT. ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING BEGAN TO DIM AND THE AIRPLANE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE PLT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY UNABLE TO LOCATE THE DESTINATION AIRPORT OR AN ALTERNATE; HE THEN BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT RUNNING OUT OF FUEL AND ELECTED TO MAKE THE PRECAUTIONARY LDG. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BY THE FAA REVEALED THAT THE ALTERNATOR HAD FAILED INTERNALLY AND THAT THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DISCHARGED. THE INSPECTOR ALSO OBSERVED THAT THE ALTERNATOR 60 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS 'POPPED'. THE PLT REPORTED HAVING APPROX 5 HRS TOTAL NIGHT FLT EXPERIENCE, APPROX 1 OF WHICH WAS OBTAINED IN THE LAST 90 DAYS.
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: 124 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 70 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,005 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 2, 1986; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SOP Southern Pines NC
- Destination: W17 Knightdale NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 260° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.