Cessna 152 accident near Conway, South Carolina, May 20, 1988
On May 20, 1988 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N94533, was substantially damaged in an accident near Conway, South Carolina. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- May 20, 1988 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Conway, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N94533 · no longer on the register · serial 15285708
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT WHEN HE EXPERIENCED A DROP IN ENGINE RPM. AFTER A SERIES OF BANGS THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING INTO A ROUGH FIELD. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT NO. 1 PISTON HAD FAILED. THE ENGINE HAD 43 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME SINCE THE OVERHAUL.
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: 200 hours in all; 152 in this make and model; 125 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,034 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 20, 1988; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Conway SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from CRE
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.