Cessna 152 accident near Salisbury, North Carolina, November 30, 1988
On November 30, 1988 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N68001, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salisbury, North Carolina (Rowan 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
- November 30, 1988 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Salisbury, North Carolina · Rowan 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
- N68001 · no longer on the register · serial 15282131
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING THE STUDENT PILOT'S FIRST SUPERVISED-SOLO FLIGHT. THE STUDENT REPORTED THAT SHE PUSHED THE ACFT'S NOSE DOWN WHILE ON FINAL APPCH AFTER REALIZING SHE WAS TOO HIGH, WHICH LED TO AN INCREASE IN AIRSPEED. THE STUDENT'S INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS TOO HIGH AND TOO FAST ON FINAL APRCH. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY MADE A 3-POINT LANDING AND BOUNCED. THE STUDENT LOWERED THE NOSE, AND THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN AND STARTED PORPOISING. ON THE THIRD BOUNCE, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED TO A STOP. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE FIREWALL DURING THE MISHAP.
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: 18 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hess Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 4,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.