Cessna 152 accident near Cleveland, Tennessee, August 6, 1990
On August 6, 1990 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5265L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cleveland, Tennessee (Harwick 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 FAILURE TO PROPERLY JUDGE THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE AIRPLANE AND HIS SUBSEQUENT FAILURE TO PERFORM A GO AROUND. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE TAILWIND CONDITION AT THE AIRPORT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 1990 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Cleveland, Tennessee · Harwick Field · 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
- N5265L · registry record · serial 15284283
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING HIS THIRD SLIPPED APPROACH/LANDING AFTER TWO UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, HE REALIZED THAT HE WAS 'EXCESSIVELY FAST.' HE DID NOT APPLY THE BRAKES SOON ENOUGH, AND STEERED THE AIRPLANE OFF THE RUNWAY TO AVOID OBSTRUCTIONS AT THE DEPARTURE END. AFTER EXITING THE AIRPLANE, HE NOTED THAT HE HAD BEEN LANDING IN A TAILWIND CONDITION. HE DID NOT ATTEMPT A GO AROUND.
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: 55 hours in all; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: C And G Acft Sales INC.
The flight
- Destination: HDI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°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.