Cessna 152 accident near Mansfield, Ohio, March 30, 1983
On March 30, 1983 at about 4:55 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5545L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mansfield, Ohio (Mansfield Lahm). 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 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
- March 30, 1983 · about 4:55 pm local time
- Place
- Mansfield, Ohio · Mansfield Lahm
- 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
- N5545L · registry record · serial 15284348
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED OFF THE RUNWAY DURING TAKEOFF AND NOSED DOWN IN THE DRIED GRASS. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS TAKING OFF ON THE RETURN LEG OF A CROSS-COUNTRY WHEN HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 40 KTS. THE WIND WAS 90 DEGREES AT 9 KTS. THE ACFT SWERVED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF RUNWAY 14R AND RAN OVER AN EDGING INSTALLATION FORMED LIKE A RAMP WHICH LIFTED THE ACFT AND IT BECAME AIRBORNE FOR ABOUT 20 FEET. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN IN THE GRASS ON THE RIGHT WINGTIP AND THE NOSE GEAR. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THERE WAS NO NOTED MALFUNCTIONS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE NOSE GEAR FAILED IN OVERLOAD.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 61 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 31 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-325-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8G7 Zelienople PA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 14, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from MFD
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 N5545L 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.