Cessna 152 accident near Bolivar, Tennessee, April 1, 1989
On April 1, 1989 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N6475Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bolivar, Tennessee (Hardeman 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PLAN REQUIRED FUEL FOR THIS FLIGHT WHICH RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 1989 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bolivar, Tennessee · Hardeman 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
- N6475Q · registry record · serial 152852559
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO BOLIVAR AIRPORT WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT HAD FLOWN ABOUT 4.0 HOURS AND ESTIMATED THAT HE HAD ABOUT 6.4 GALLONS OF FUEL RESERVE FOR THE FLT. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY SYSTEM MALFUNCTION OR COMPONENT FAILURE. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE DURING THE LANDING.
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: 191 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,878 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 29, 1989; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bolivar Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: M41 Holy Spring MS at 8:30 pm
- Destination: M08 Bolivar TN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 4,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.