Cessna 152 accident near Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, April 8, 1995
On April 8, 1995 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N25502, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina (South Raleigh Airport). 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
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS DURING LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 1995 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina · South Raleigh Airport
- 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
- N25502 · registry record · serial 152-80689
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, THE STUDENT PILOT EXPERIENCED A WIND CONDITION WHICH CAUSED THE APPROACH AIRSPEED TO DROP TO 45 MPH. AS THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RUNWAY, IT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY INTO THE GRASS; THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A DITCH AND NOSED OVER. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED BY THE STUDENT PILOT.
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: 64 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,090 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 3, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ron'S Aircraft Services
The flight
- Departed from: W88 Greensboro NC at 5:30 pm
- Destination: 5W5
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 16, 3,004 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from RDU, 30 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 N25502 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.