Cessna 152 accident near Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina, June 1, 1992
On June 1, 1992 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N757VN, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURES WHILE OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT IN WEATHER CONDITIONS FAVORABLE TO CARBURETOR ICING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE WEATHER CONDITION, WHICH WAS FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 1992 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N757VN · no longer on the register · serial 15280039
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE HAD A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. HE STATED THAT HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT, AND THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER. HE STATED THAT BY THE TIME THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER, HE WAS TOO LOW AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE WATER. THE TEMPERATURE AND DEWPOINT IN THE ACCIDENT AREA AT THE TIME WERE CONDUCIVE FOR THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR 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: 130 hours in all; 63 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,758 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 1992; 170 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: 14A Lake Norman NC at 2:30 pm
- Destination: ILM Wilmington NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from ILM, 30 miles away
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.