Cessna 152 accident near Ardmore, Oklahoma, May 21, 2012
On May 21, 2012 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N6102Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Ardmore, Oklahoma (Ardmore Downtown Executive Air 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 student pilot's improper configuration of the airplane flaps during an aborted landing, which resulted in an inadequate climb rate and subsequent collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2012 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Ardmore, Oklahoma · Ardmore Downtown Executive Air · 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
- N6102Q · no longer on the register · serial 15285127
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot landed at the wrong airport during a solo flight. He aborted the landing and initiated a climb; however, he left the flaps fully extended. Because of the drag due to the flap extension, the airplane could not climb sufficiently to avoid trees at the departure end of the runway and impacted the trees.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (aborted after touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Configuration › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Student pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 64 hours in all; 64 in this make and model; 64 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,405 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: US Aviation Group LLC
The flight
- Departed from: DTO Denton TX at 10:20 pm
- Destination: ADM Ardmore TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 35, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from 1F0, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N6102Q 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.