Cessna 152 accident near Eden, Utah, October 1, 1988
On October 1, 1988 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N48926, was destroyed in an accident near Eden, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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 1, 1988 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Eden, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N48926 · no longer on the register · serial 15281053
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PLT TOLD RAMP PSNL THAT HE & HIS WIFE WERE PLANNING TO TAKE SOME PICTURES OF THE BEAUTIFUL FALL COLORS. A WITNESS NEAR THE CRASH SITE OBSERVED AN ACFT (MATCHING THE DESCRIPTION OF N48926) FLYING AT LOW ALTITUDE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED IN A BOX CANYON AREA WHERE STEEP TERRAIN PREVAILED ON BOTH SIDES & AHEAD OF THE ACFT. ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 8000 FT. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 10,400 FT. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE ACFT HAD CRASHED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND, EXCEPT ONE OF THE BOTTOM SPARK PLUGS CONTAINED ENOUGH LEAD DEPOSITS TO FILL THE GAP BTN THE CENTER POST (ELECTRODE) & ONE SIDE OF THE PLUG. CHORDWISE SCRAPES WERE FOUND ON THE PROP BLADES. ALSO, A 3 INCH LIMB WAS FOUND AT THE CRASH SITE WHICH HAD BEEN SLICED.
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: 61 hours in all; 61 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,402 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 12, 1988; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: OGD Ogden UT at 8:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.