Cessna 152 accident near Sargent, Texas, May 16, 1987
On May 16, 1987 at about 11:32 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N48735, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sargent, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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 16, 1987 · about 11:32 pm local time
- Place
- Sargent, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N48735 · no longer on the register · serial 15280944
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT DECIDED TO TAKEOFF TWD THE NE ON A PVT ROAD (WHICH HE REFERRED TO AS 'SHELL RD . . . BEACH'). HE USED 10 DEG OF FLAPS & APPLIED FULL POWER BEFORE RELEASING THE BRAKES. HE STATED THAT AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE ABOUT 2 TO 5 FT, THE ACFT 'SHIFTED SLIGHTLY RIGHT AND BEGAN TO SETTLE.' ALSO, HE SAID THE ACFT 'DID NOT RESPOND TO YOKE' & CONTINUED TO SETTLED UNTIL IT WENT INTO A DITCH & NOSED OVER. RPRTDLY, THE WIND WAS VARIABLE, BUT WAS PREVAILING FROM 230 DEG AT 8 KTS. PLT'S MED CERT WAS DATED 3/12/85.
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: 4 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.