Cessna 152 accident near Peewee Valley, Kentucky, February 18, 1990
On February 18, 1990 at about 5:05 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N95445, was substantially damaged in an accident near Peewee Valley, Kentucky (Stutz Field). 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 IMPROPER PRECAUTIONARY LANDINGS. THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISIONS, THE LOW FUEL LEVEL, AND THE TERRAIN CONDITIONS AT THE AIRSTRIP WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 18, 1990 · about 5:05 pm local time · cases in 1990
- Place
- Peewee Valley, Kentucky · Stutz Field · cases near this airport · 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
- N95445 · registry record · serial 15285898
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT IN PREPARATION FOR A COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE. THE PILOT CHECKED FUEL OVER CINCINATTI AND MADE THE DECISION THAT, WITH 10 GALLONS, SUFFICIENT FUEL REMAINED TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT. AT ABOUT 10 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION, THE PILOT NOTIFIED ATC THAT SHE HAD A LOW FUEL LEVEL AND REQUESTED VECTORS TO A CLOSER AIRPORT. THE PILOT WAS VECTORED TO A TURF STRIP. UNABLE TO DETERMINE RUNWAY ORIENTATION, THE PILOT LANDED TO THE EAST ON RUNWAY 07, WHICH SHE REPORTED AS BEING UNEVEN. THE PILOT USE HARD BRAKING TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT. AS IT WENT THROUGH AN AREA OF SOFT TERRAIN, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT STOPPED IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE PILOT HAD BEEN INFORMED BY HER INSTRUCTOR TO LAND AT CINCINATTI, IF THE FUEL WAS AT HALF OR LESS. THE AIRCRAFT CARRIED 24.5 USABLE GALLONS. THE SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS INCLUDED LANDING WITH ONE HOUR OF FUEL REMAINING.
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: 117 hours in all; 88 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,771 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 1989; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kent State University
The flight
- Departed from: 1G3 Kent OH at 1:25 pm
- Destination: LOU Louisville KY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 7, 2,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from LOU, 9 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 N95445 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N95445 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 152 1,636 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C 18 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Kent State University Airport · departed from
- Bowman Field · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Kentucky 702 since 1982 · 111 in the last ten years
- Kentucky 2,981 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N95445 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL90LA064.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.