Cessna 152 accident near Bunker Hill, Illinois, April 7, 1989
On April 7, 1989 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N66988, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bunker Hill, Illinois. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PREFLIGHT BY THE STUDENT PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: SOFT TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 1989 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Bunker Hill, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N66988 · no longer on the register · serial 152-81707
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT RPRTD THAT DURING A PREFLT, HE CHECKED THE FUEL GAGES, VISUALLY INSPECTED THE FUEL TANKS & BELIEVED THE FUEL TANKS WERE ABOUT HALF FULL. HE TOOK OFF WITHOUT REFUELING THE ACFT. ABOUT 45 MIN LATER, THE ENG LOST POWER & THE STUDENT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A WHEAT FIELD. DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT NOSED OVER & WAS DAMAGED. RECORDS SHOWED THE ACFT HAD FLOWN 3.8 HRS ON A PREVIOUS FLT, AFTER IT WAS LAST REFUELED. AT ECONOMY CRUISE, MAX FLT TIME FOR THIS ACFT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 4.22 HRS.
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: 60 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Premier Air Center, INC
The flight
- Departed from: ALN East Alton IL at 9:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from ALN, 9 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.