Cessna 152 accident near Monroe, North Carolina, April 19, 1992
On April 19, 1992 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N4978P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monroe, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED DURING CLIMBOUT WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. A FACTOR WAS REPORTED DOWNDRAFTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 1992 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Monroe, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N4978P · no longer on the register · serial 15284870
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE ENCOUNTERED A WIND SHIFT/DOWNDRAFT DURING CLIMBOUT. FEARING THAT HE COULD NOT CLEAR THE TREES ON THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, HE INITIATED A RIGHT CLIMBING TURN. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND CRASHED IN A NEARBY FIELD. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED.
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: 292 hours in all; 12 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 262 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,015 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,615 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 28A Indian Trail NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from CLT, 20 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.