Cessna 152 accident near Salisbury, North Carolina, January 14, 1993
On January 14, 1993 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N25865, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salisbury, North Carolina. It was a personal 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 BECAME LOST AND EXHAUSTED THE AIRPLANE FUEL SUPPLY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 14, 1993 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Salisbury, North Carolina · 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
- N25865 · no longer on the register · serial 15280827
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD DEPARTED THE 1ST STOP OF A TWO STOP CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. SHE DISCOVERED AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES THAT SHE WAS OFF COURSE. COURSE DEVIATIONS WERE MADE LOOKING FOR A RECOGNIZABLE LANDMARK, WITHOUT SUCCESS. A GRASS STRIP WAS LOCATED WITH TWO TRAILERS. AFTER LANDING, NO ONE WAS LOCATED IN THE TRAILERS. A PASSING TRUCK DRIVER, ON A NEARBY HIGHWAY, WAS STOPPED TO ASK DIRECTIONS. SHE TOOK OFF AGAIN BUT WAS STILL UNABLE TO LOCATE LANDMARKS SHE KNEW. ASSISTANCE WAS THEN REQUESTED FROM CHARLOTTE TOWER, WHO VECTORED HER TOWARD SALISBURY. SHE ENTERED THE LANDING PATTERN AT SALISBURY, MANEUVERING TO AVOID ANOTHER AIRPLANE IN THE PATTERN. AS THE AIRPLANE WAS TURNED ONTO THE BASE LEG, POWER WAS ADDED TO SLOW THE DESCENT RATE & THE ENGINE QUIT. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD. THE AIRPLANE HIT A DIRT BERM DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
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: 106 hours in all; 88 in this make and model; 106 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,892 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 24, 1992; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mcclure Aircraft, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Concord NC at 9:30 pm
- Destination: 5N4 Lincolnton NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 010° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from RVQ, 1 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.
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.