Cessna 152 accident near Kinston, North Carolina, October 25, 1989
On October 25, 1989 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N67318, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kinston, North Carolina. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO DEPART FOR HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT WITH LESS THAN REQUIRED FUEL, AND HIS IMPROPER USE OF THE COMMUNICATIONS RADIO WHICH RESULTED IN HIS CIRCLING THE AIRPORT AND EXHAUSTING ALL FUEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 25, 1989 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kinston, North Carolina
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N67318 · no longer on the register · serial 15281749
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT DEPARTED WITH 2 TO 3 INCHES OF FUEL IN EACH TANK FOR THE 21.5 MI FLIGHT TO OBTAIN FUEL. UPON ARRIVAL NEAR DESTINATION, CONTACT COULD NOT BE MADE WITH THE CONTROL TOWER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE TOWER HE REALIZED HE NOW HAD A VERY LOW FUEL STATE. THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND QUIT. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER ON ROLLOUT. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT, AND THE COMMUNICATION RADIOS WERE FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION.
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: 31 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,196 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 12, 1989; 22 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: PGV Greenville NC at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:46 pm from ISO, 3 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N67318 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.