Cessna 152 accident near New Caney, Texas, October 23, 1987
On October 23, 1987 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N4870P, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Caney, Texas. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- October 23, 1987 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- New Caney, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N4870P · registry record · serial 15284834
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT TOOK OFF IN MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS ON A PIPELINE PATROL FLT. EN ROUTE, THE PLT ENCOUNTERED DETERIORATING WX CONDITIONS AND EXPERIENCED A ROUGH RUNNING ENG, DUE TO WHAT HE SUSPECTED WAS CARB ICE. HIS ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY THE ROUGHNESS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE PLT ELECTED TO EXECUTE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO A RURAL ROAD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE PLT ENCOUNTERED POOR BRAKING ACTION AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A ROAD SIGN CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. A REVIEW OF THE ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS INDICATED THAT CARB ICING WAS POSSIBLE AT CRUISE OR LOWER POWER SETTINGS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,804 hours in all; 879 in this make and model; 705 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,606 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 18, 1987; 335 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RWJ Baytown TX at 3:00 pm
- Destination: BPT Port Arthur TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded at 500 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:34 pm from IAH, 10 miles away
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.