Cessna 152 accident near Maiden, North Carolina, July 27, 2023
On July 27, 2023 at about 4:11 pm local time, a 1981 Cessna 152, registered N6194Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Maiden, North Carolina (Laneys Airport). It was an instructional 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
The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the landing approach and go-around, and his delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 2023 · about 4:11 pm local time
- Place
- Maiden, North Carolina · Laneys Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 NO SERIES, built 1981 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N6194Q · registry record · serial 15285189
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student departed on an instructional flight and flew to a nearby grass airstrip for pattern work. Although the flight instructor had flown into the airstrip before, he did not check the runway length before the flight departed and thought it was longer than the actual published 2,400-ft length. After arriving at the destination airstrip the, student entered left downwind for runway 13, resulting in a right quartering tailwind of about 5 knots. The flight instructor told the student to perform a short field landing. The student turned early onto the base leg of the airport traffic pattern, then turned onto final approach, resulting in the airplane being high and fast. After informing the student that the airplane was high and fast the student pitched the airplane down, which increased the airspeed, but he did not reduce power. The airplane continued to be high and fast, and somewhere before the midpoint of the runway the flight instructor told the student to go around. He repeated the instruction after the student hesitated. The student leveled off, added full power, removed carburetor heat, but left the flaps extended at 30° while he pitched for Vx airspeed. While climbing slightly, and with insufficient runway remaining to land, the flight instructor took the controls from the student and at that time realized the flaps were still at 30°. The airplane subsequently collided with trees beyond the end of the runway before descending to the ground resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage. The flight instructor reported there was no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He also reported that the accident could have been prevented by executing a go-around much earlier.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 886 hours in all; 121 in this make and model; 184 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 797 as pilot in command; 547 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 23, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 164 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 118 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 12, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 19,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flight Level Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 14A Mooresville NC at 3:58 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 2,400 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 12:25 pm from KIPJ, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KIPJ 271625Z AUTO 23003KT 10SM CLR 32/22 A3015 RMK AO2 T03220216
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on November 30, 2023. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of NTSB Conversation | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Record of Conversation | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Statement from Student | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.