Cessna 152 accident near Flint, Michigan, July 8, 1984
On July 8, 1984 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N49185, was substantially damaged in an accident near Flint, Michigan (Bishop airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- July 8, 1984 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Flint, Michigan · Bishop · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N49185 · registry record · serial 15283435
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT DURING PREFLIGHT, HE NOTICED THAT AFTER STRAINING THE FUEL SUMP, THE STRAINER HANDLE DID NOT GO BACKIN AS FAR AS IT SHOULD HAVE. HE CHECKED TO MAKE SURE NO FUEL WAS LEAKING & DECIDED TO TAKE OFF. EN ROUTE, HE SMELLED FUEL VAPORS. THE ENG QUIT AS THE PLT WAS CLEARED TO LAND BY FLINT TOWER. THE FUEL TANKS WERE FOUND EMPTY. WITNESSES AT THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED THAT THE FUEL STRAINER HANDLE WAS NOT FULLY SEATED. THE FLT HAD DEPARTED WITH AN ESTIMATED 6-1/2 GALS OF FUEL ON BOARD ABOUT 15 MIN PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,378 hours in all; 380 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 5,143 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,414 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, September 15, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4D0 Grandledge MI at 9:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 14 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from FNT, 2 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.