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Accidents · NTSB ATL88LA189 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Cessna 152 accident near East Liverpool, Ohio, June 8, 1988

On June 8, 1988 at about 3:05 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N89059, was substantially damaged in an accident near East Liverpool, Ohio (Columbiana County 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
June 8, 1988 · about 3:05 pm local time
Place
East Liverpool, Ohio · Columbiana County · 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
N89059 · no longer on the register · serial 15282614
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT HE FLARED LATE DURING LDG. THE AIRPLANE BALLOONED AND STARTED DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT. THE STUDENT ADDED PWR AND LEFT RUDDER IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL; HE 'OVERCOMPENSATED' WITH LEFT RUDDER INPUT, AND LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHEN THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH. THE STUDENT HAD 1 HOUR OF SOLO FLT EXPERIENCE.

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: 16 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,374 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1988; 41 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
  • Operator: Central Air Flt. Training,Inc.

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0, 3,512 ft by 75 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 15 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Other NTSB records under N89059 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time

2013-02-08WPR13FA118 · accident near Tucson, AZ · substantial damage · fatal

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.