Cessna 152 accident near Turner Falls, Massachusetts, May 1, 1993
On May 1, 1993 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N49394, was substantially damaged in an accident near Turner Falls, Massachusetts (Turner Falls 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 IMPROPER FLARE AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1993 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Turner Falls, Massachusetts · Turner Falls
- 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
- N49394 · no longer on the register · serial 15281234
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LANDING, THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN, THEN IT BOUNCED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT IMPACTED THE RUNWAY IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO AIRFRAME OR ENGINE ANOMALIES BEFORE THE LANDING. ALSO, HE REPORTED THE WINDS WERE FROM 260 DEG AT 2 TO 3 KNOTS, BUT WERE GUSTING 5 TO 8 KNOTS. ABOUT 20 MILES NORTH AT SPRINGFIELD, MA, THE WIND WAS FROM 010 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS.
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: 15 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,836 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 1993; 131 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Collegiate Flying Club, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,013 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 pm from CEF, 20 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.
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.