Cessna 152 accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, March 14, 2001
On March 14, 2001 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N757GP, was destroyed in an accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Downtown Airpark airport). 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
the loss of engine power during the initial takeoff climb for an undetermined reason, which resulted in a forced landing. A contributory factor to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 2001 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · Downtown Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N757GP · no longer on the register · serial 15279731
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot performed a preflight inspection and taxied to the engine run-up area. There were no anomalies during the pre-takeoff engine run-up and he performed a normal takeoff. The airplane was climbing through 200 feet agl when the tachometer needle dropped to 2,000 rpm. The pilot performed the emergency checklist for an engine failure immediately after takeoff. He reported that he checked that the primer was in-and-locked, the fuel selector valve was in the on position, the mixture was in the full rich position, and the carburetor heat was off. While he was performing the checklist items, "the engine rpm dropped again the engine appeared to be running rough." A forced landing was initiated and the airplane impacted electrical wires, trees, and terrain south of the airport. The airplane came to rest inverted in the parking area of a shopping mall. An examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have prevented operation. Fire damage to the airframe precluded examination of the fuel system. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.
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: 166 hours in all
- Last flight review: October 8, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,085 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 10, 2001; 0.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,146 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 2DT Oklahoma City OK at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,240 ft by 85 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 700 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from TIK, 5 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.