Cessna 152 accident near Graham, Texas, July 20, 1987
On July 20, 1987 at about 1:10 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N64935, was substantially damaged in an accident near Graham, Texas (Graham Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- July 20, 1987 · about 1:10 am local time
- Place
- Graham, Texas · Graham Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N64935 · no longer on the register · serial 15281484
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE APPROXIMATE HALF TANKS OF FUEL WHICH THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTEDLY OBSERVED ON BOARD DURING HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION (AND WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON BOARD AT THAT TIME) APPARENTLY LEAKED OUT THROUGH THE BROKEN FUEL LINE FITTING AT THE CARBURETOR WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT REST AT THE CRASH SITE, EVEN THOUGH NO STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS DETECTED BY THOSE WHO EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT LATER THAT NIGHT. THE SATISFACTORY POST ACCIDENT ENGINE OPERATIONAL CHECK REVEALED THE ENGINE WAS CAPABLE OF NORMAL OPERATION. THE REASON FOR ITS ALLEGED FAILURE DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB FROM THE GRAHAM AIRPORT WAS NOT DISCOVERED. AFTER THE POWER LOSS A FORCED LANDING WAS INITIATED. DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT FOR THIS LANDING THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A POWER LINE WHICH PULLED IT INTO THE GROUND.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 30 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,429 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 17, 1987; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Air Academy
The flight
- Departed from: E15 Graham TX at 1:10 am
- Destination: DTO Denton TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.