Cessna 152 accident near Grandview, Tennessee, May 16, 1993
On May 16, 1993 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N6231B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grandview, Tennessee. 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
FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT BATTERY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 1993 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grandview, Tennessee · 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
- N6231B · registry record · serial 15283910
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE RETURN LEG OF A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT OBSERVED LOWER THAN EXPECTED FUEL QUANTITY READINGS, AND SUSPECTED A FUEL LEAK OR EXCESSIVE FUEL BURN. HE WAS ALSO OBSERVING SIGNS OF ELECTRICAL FAILURE. HE ELECTED TO PERFORM A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A RURAL ROAD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, HE MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE RIGHT WING COLLIDED WITH A POLE, A FENCE, AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT 3 SPARK PLUG LEADS WERE LOOSE, AND A FOURTH WAS DISCONNECTED. THE FUEL TANKS WERE 1/2 TO 3/4 FULL. THE AIRCRAFT ALTERNATOR WAS OPERATIVE, HOWEVER THE BATTERY WAS DISCHARGED.
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: 50 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 17 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,394 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 1993; 26 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: 2A0 Dayton TN at 8:00 pm
- Destination: RKW Rockwood TN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; not recorded at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from CSV, 16 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 N6231B the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.