Cessna 152 accident near Carswell, Texas, May 1, 1982
On May 1, 1982 at about 1:10 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N4889H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carswell, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- May 1, 1982 · about 1:10 am local time
- Place
- Carswell, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N4889H · no longer on the register · serial 15284000
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND A PASSENGER (A STUDENT PILOT) DEPARTED NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX AT ABOUT 1700 HRS. THE INSTRUCTOR FLEW TO A RECREATIONAL AREA AND LANDED IN AN OPEN NEARBY FIELD. HE GAVE AIRPLANE RIDES TO VARIOUS PERSONS FOR ABOUT 1 1/2 HRS THEN PARKED THE AIRCRAFT. BY THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOW ON FUEL. REPORTEDLY, THE STUDENT PILOT ELECTED TO FLY TO AN AIRPORT AND PURCHASE MORE FUEL SINCE OTHER PERSONS WANTED RIDES. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE SUTDENT TOOK THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT PERMISSION. THE STUDENT FLEW TO MEACHUM FIELD AT FT WORTH, TX AND PURCHASED 10 GALLONS OF FUEL. HE RETURNED AND FLEW OVER THE RECREATION AREA AT DUSK. A SHORT TIME LATER AT ABOUT 2010 LOCAL TIME, THE PLANE COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN NEAR THE RECREATIONAL AREA AND THE OPEN FIELD THAT WAS USED FOR EARLIER LANDINGS. IT WAS NOT DETERMINED WHETHER THE STUDENT WAS TRYING TO LAND OR JUST FLYING LOW. A TOXICOLOGICAL CHECK REVEALED THE STUDENT'S BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 0.13%. THE PILOT'S SEAT BELT WAS NOT BUCKLED.
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: student
- Flight time: 55 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 35 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 690 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 147 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tarrant Aero Assoc.
The flight
- Departed from: Fort Worth TX at 8:00 pm
- Destination: Fort Worth TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 010° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 154°F (68°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.