Cessna 152 accident near Burlington, North Carolina, November 19, 1989
On November 19, 1989 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N89212, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burlington, North Carolina. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. THE BARN WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 19, 1989 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Burlington, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N89212 · no longer on the register · serial 152282675
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT & PASSENGER TOOK OFF ON A FLT TO TAKE PHOTOS. DRG THE FLT, THE PLT SLOWED THE ACFT TO ABOUT 50 KTS TO ACCOMMODATE THE PASSENGER'S PHOTO PROCESS. HE THEN INCREASED POWER & LOWERED THE NOSE TO GAIN AIRSPEED. AS HE ACCELERATED TO 75 KTS & BEGAN TO CLIMB, THE ENG LOST POWER. ALTITUDE AT ABOUT THAT TIME WAS ABOUT 800' AGL. THE PLT TRIED TO MANEUVER AROUND A BARN TO LAND IN A FIELD; HOWEVER, THE ACFT HIT THE BARN & CRASHED IN AN INVERTED ATTITUDE. A POST-ACDNT EXAM OF THE ACFT FAILED TO REVEAL ANY PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. THE TEMP & DEW POINT WERE RPRTD TO BE 41 & 15 DEG. ACCORDING TO CARB ICE CHARTS, CONDS WERE NOT CONDUCIVE TO CARB ICE.
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: 70 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,443 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 19, 1989; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Burlington Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Burlington NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from GSO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.