Cessna 152 accident near Hillsboro, Ohio, July 12, 2022
On July 12, 2022 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 1977 Cessna 152, registered N49189, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Hillsboro, Ohio (Highland County airport). 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 pilot's loss of directional control while landing, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2022 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hillsboro, Ohio · Highland County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152, built 1977 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N49189 · registry record · serial 15281182
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane in light crosswind conditions. He reported that just before touchdown the airplane began to settle. He added power and after a hard three-point landing the airplane veered left. He corrected back to centerline; however, the airplane went right and then left again and exited the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage and right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,400 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 20, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,614.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 26, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,593 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 6,945 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 23, 3,520 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.61 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from ILN, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KILN 012054Z AUTO 11005KT 6SM -RA BR BKN075 OVC090 12/11 A2961 RMK AO2 PRESFR SLP031 P0005 60040 T01170111 56011
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on December 8, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N49189 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.