Cessna 152 accident near Annapolis, Maryland, April 17, 1988
On April 17, 1988 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5269H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Annapolis, Maryland. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- April 17, 1988 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Annapolis, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5269H · no longer on the register · serial 15284076
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STU & INSTR WERE RETURNING TO MITCHELLVILLE AFTER DOING SEVERAL TOUCH & GO LANDINGS AT STEVENSVILLE. THE ACFT WAS LEVEL AT 1700 FT WHEN A POWER LOSS OCCURRED. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE INSTR TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT AND LANDED IN A MARSHY BOG. THE ACFT CONTINUED INTO A CREEK AND NOSED OVER. THE INSTR AND STU EXITED THE ACFT ASSISTED BY FISHERMAN. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THERE WAS LESS THAN 1 GAL OF FUEL ABOARD THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE STU SAID THE FUEL GAGES INDICATED ONE-QUARTER AND ONE-HALF FULL TANKS DURING THE PREFLIGHT. SINCE THE ACFT WAS LAST REFUELED IT WAS FLOWN 4.6 HRS INCLUDING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WHICH WAS 1.3 HRS LONG.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 412 hours in all; 69 in this make and model; 116 in the last 90 days; 325 as pilot in command; 80 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,870 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 21, 1988; 55 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: W29 Stevensville MD
- Destination: W00 Mitchellville MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from ADW, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.