Cessna 152 accident near Corpus Christi, Texas, July 31, 1993
On July 31, 1993 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5115B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Corpus Christi, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INADVERTENT STALL. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL BUZZING AT LOW ALTITUDE OVER THE BEACH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1993 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Corpus Christi, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5115B · registry record · serial 15283755
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE WANTED TO TAKE SOME AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF FRIENDS ON THE BEACH AND HE MADE SEVERAL PASSES AT THE GROUP. HE REPORTED THAT ON THE LAST PASS, ENGINE LOST POWER AND A FORCED LANDING ENSUED. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER IN THE SOFT SAND. THE PASSENGER SAID THE PILOT WAS 'SHOWING OFF' AND 'THE NOSE DROPPED.' A WITNESS SAID THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO STALL. THE ENGINE WAS LATER FUNCTIONALLY TESTED AND OPERATED SATISFACTORILY.
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: 600 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (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
The flight
- Departed from: RKP Rockport TX at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from CRP, 18 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.