Cessna 152 accident near Arcadia, Florida, November 13, 1988
On November 13, 1988 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N69175, was destroyed in an accident near Arcadia, Florida. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- November 13, 1988 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Arcadia, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N69175 · no longer on the register · serial 15282529
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ON A CROSS COUNTRY INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED FOR FUEL AT ORLANDO INT'L AND DEPARTED VFR. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS LOCATED BY ELT SIGNAL IN A TREELINE THAT BORDERED THE WEST END OF A LARGE OPEN PASTURE. TREE IMPACT OCCURRED AT APPROX 20' AGL AND WRECKAGE WAS DISTRIBUTED 310' THROUGH A HEAVILY WOODED AREA. THERE WERE NO RADIO CALLS FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL OR STRUCTURAL FAILURE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,324 hours in all; 1,604 in this make and model; 314 in the last 90 days; 94 in the last 30 days; 3,008 as pilot in command; 2,441 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,142 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 12, 1988; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: OPF Opa Locka FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:48 pm from FMY, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.