Cessna 152II accident near Ashland, Ohio, October 9, 1988
On October 9, 1988 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Cessna 152II, registered N49135, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ashland, Ohio. It was a personal 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
- October 9, 1988 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Ashland, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152II · all 152IIs on the register
- Registration
- N49135 · no longer on the register · serial 15281158
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ENROUTE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM BUFFALO, NEW YORK TO MANSFIELD, OHIO, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT PERFORMED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN A FARMER'S OPEN FIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE FIELD WAS SHORTER THAN HE EXPECTED; HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT IN TIME TO AVOID SOME TREES AT THE END OF THE FIELD. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE KNEW THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOW ON FUEL, BUT HE JUDGED THAT HE COULD REACH HIS DESTINATION WITHOUT REFUELLING. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 2.5 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. THE AIRCRAFT MANUAL STATES THAT THE UNUSEABLE FUEL ON BOARD THE CESSNA 152 IS 1.75 GALLONS PER SIDE; 3.5 GALLONS TOTAL.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 115 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 93 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 58 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,561 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 30, 1987; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mustang, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: BUF Buffalo NY at 12:10 pm
- Destination: MFD Mansfield OH
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from MFD, 14 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.