Cessna 152 accident near Hagerstown, Indiana, June 24, 1990
On June 24, 1990 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N4840B, was destroyed in an accident near Hagerstown, Indiana (Hagerstown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE ALL AVAILABLE RUNWAY AND FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 1990 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Hagerstown, Indiana · Hagerstown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N4840B · no longer on the register · serial 15283666
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM MIDFIELD ON A 4,000 FOOT SOFT GRASS STRIP WITH NO FLAPS. HE DID NOT ATTAIN LIFT-OFF SPEED, AND DID NOT ABORT THE TAKEOFF WHEN HE REALIZED HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH SPEED. AT THE LAST MOMENT HE TRIED TO GET AIRBORNE TO AVOID HITTING A RESIDENCE AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT HIT A VEHICLE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY OF THE RESIDENCE AND CARTWHEELED INTO THE ATTACHED GARAGE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,300 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ 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
The flight
- Destination: I62 Brookville OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 4,000 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from MIE, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.