Cessna 152 accident near Jackson, Tennessee, June 13, 1989
On June 13, 1989 at about 4:17 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N24451, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jackson, Tennessee. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE SEPARATION OF THE MIXTURE CABLE FROM THE CARBURETOR. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE SOFT TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 1989 · about 4:17 pm local time
- Place
- Jackson, Tennessee
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N24451 · no longer on the register · serial 15280262
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A SERIES OF TURNS-ABOUT-A-POINT, THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER WHEN FULL THROTTLE WAS APPLIED TO INITIATE A CLIMB. SUBSEQUENT EFFORTS BY THE INSTRUCTOR AND THE PRIVATE-PILOT STUDENT TO REGAIN POWER WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, AND A FORCED LDG WAS MADE IN A PLOWED FIELD. THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED SOFT DIRT AND NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL. POST-EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE MIXTURE CONTROL CABLE HAD SEPARATED FROM THE MIXTURE CONTROL LEVER ON THE CARBURETOR; THE CABLE END HAD PULLED OUT OF THE ATTACHMENT HARDWARE. THE AIRPLANE HAD UNDERGONE A 100-HR INSPECTION ABOUT 1 MONTH BEFORE 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 93 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,245 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 18, 1989; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M08 Bolivar TN at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from MKS
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.