Cessna 152 accident near Mappsville, Virginia, September 10, 1986
On September 10, 1986 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N64934, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mappsville, Virginia. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 1986 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Mappsville, Virginia · 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
- N64934 · no longer on the register · serial 15281483
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT EXPERIENCED A DROP IN ENGINE POWER DURING CRUISE FLIGHT. HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT AND POWER WAS REGAINED. A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS MADE AT NEARBY ACCOMACK CO ARPT. SEVERAL ENGINE RUNUPS WERE DONE AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM DETECTED. HE DEPARTED THE ARPT AND ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER, AT 3500 FT MSL, A 1000 RPM LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. HE TRIED TO APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT; HOWEVER THE CONTROL KNOB WAS STUCK AND HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN IT ON. AT THE REDUCED POWER SETTING, THE ACFT DESCENDED TO 2000 FT MSL; WHERE TOTAL POWER LOSS OCCURRED. THE PLT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON AN OPEN FIELD. ON TOUCH DOWN THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER IN THE SOFT GROUND.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 620 hours in all; 438 in this make and model; 598 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MFV Melfa VA
- Destination: ORF Norfolk VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from PRF
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.