Cessna 152 accident near Edisto Island, South Carolina, December 26, 1993
On December 26, 1993 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N25566, was substantially damaged in an accident near Edisto Island, South Carolina (Charleston Executive airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT, WHILE MANEUVERING AND CHANGING ALTITUDES, WHICH RESULTED IN CARBURETOR ICE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THAT WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE 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
- December 26, 1993 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Edisto Island, South Carolina · Charleston Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N25566 · registry record · serial 15280734
- 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 PERFORMING A SUPERVISED SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, WHICH INCLUDED UPPER AIR MANEUVER PRACTICE. DURING A DESCENT, THERE WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. AFTER AN UNSUCCESSFUL RESTART ATTEMPT, AN OPEN FIELD WAS SELECTED FOR A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK BRUSH AND TREES, AND WAS DAMAGED. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE FAILED TO REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE, AND THE ENGINE WAS RUN UP TO FULL POWER ON A TEST PLATFORM. WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT THE USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT WHILE MANEUVERING.
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: 54 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 26 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,282 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 23, 1993; 7 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: JZI Johns Island SC at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from CHS, 15 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 N25566 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.