Cessna 152 accident near Ada, Oklahoma, August 20, 1988
On August 20, 1988 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N89271, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ada, Oklahoma (Ada Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- August 20, 1988 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ada, Oklahoma · Ada Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N89271 · no longer on the register · serial 15282695
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, THE AIRPLANE LANDED IN A SOFT, PLOWED FIELD, 50 FEET SHORT OF A RUNWAY AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, IT NOSED OVER TO THE INVERTED POSITION. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THE PILOT SAID HE MIGHT HAVE RUN OUT OF FUEL. THE PILOT TOLD THE ASI THERE WAS STILL FUEL BEING INDICATED IN THE SYSTEM AFTER THE POWER LOSS AND SAID THERE WAS FUEL COMING OUT OF THE FUEL CAP AFTER THE ACCIDENT. WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS SALVAGED, THE TANKS WERE EMPTY AND NO PROBLEMS COULD BE FOUND WITH THE ENGINE OR FUEL SYSTEM.
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: 54 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 23 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,188 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 3, 1988; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TUL Tulsa OK at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 72°F (22°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.