Cessna 152 accident near Charleston, South Carolina, April 1, 1988
On April 1, 1988 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N68726, was substantially damaged in an accident near Charleston, South Carolina (Charleston Executive 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
- April 1, 1988 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Charleston, South Carolina · Charleston Executive · 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
- N68726 · no longer on the register · serial 15282339
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT RPTD THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS LOW ON FINAL APPCH, AND THAT HE APPLIED PWR TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. AFTER CROSSING THE RWY THRESHOLD, HE REDUCED THE PWR TO IDLE & LOWERED THE NOSE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. HE INITIATED A FLARE PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, BUT THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD IN A NOSE-LOW ATTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO PORPOISE, AND THE NOSE LDG GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY SKIDDED OFF OF THE SIDE OF THE RWY. THE STUDENT PLT HAD APPROX 14 HRS OF SOLO EXPERIENCE AND WAS ENDORSED FOR SOLO FLIGHT.
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: 46 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 14 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,085 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme; 83 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: CHS Charleston Afb SC at 3:36 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 9, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from CHS, 12 miles away
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.