Cessna 152 accident near Opelousas, Louisiana, August 28, 1983
On August 28, 1983 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N89575, was destroyed in an accident near Opelousas, Louisiana (Unknown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- August 28, 1983 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Opelousas, Louisiana · Unknown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N89575 · no longer on the register · serial 15282792
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER ABORTING 3 TKOFS FROM A SHORT GRASS STRIP THE PLT DECIDED THE GRASS WAS TOO LONG. AFT MOWING THE GRASS AND AN ADDITIONAL AREA TO EXTEND THE LENGTH OF THE STRIP THE PLT TOOK OFF ALONE TO SEE IF THE LENGTH WAS SUITABLE FOR TAKOF. THE PLT THEN LNDD AND ATMPTD TKOF WITH A PAX ONBOARD. THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB ABV 50 FT AFT TKOF AND WHILE ATMPTG TO AVOID PWR LINES COLLIDED WITH A TREE. HE ALSO ADDED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE DELAYED HIS DEPARTURE UNTIL THE TEMP DECREASED AND ESTIMATED IT TO BE ABT 90 DEGREES.
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: 139 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 99 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 654 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Opelousas LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 81°F (27°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.