Cessna 152 accident near Winnsboro, Texas, November 5, 1988
On November 5, 1988 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N69008, was substantially damaged in an accident near Winnsboro, Texas (Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- November 5, 1988 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Winnsboro, Texas · Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N69008 · no longer on the register · serial 15282428
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT CHECKED THE WX FOR HIS SOLO X/C AND WAS ADVISED OF STRONG WINDS AND MODERATE TURBULENCE. THE SUPERVISING FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS AWARE OF THE WX REPORT AND ALLOWED THE STUDENT TO DEPART, ALTHOUGH ALL LATER X/C FLIGHTS WERE CANCELLED DUE TO THE FORECAST WINDS AND TURBULENCE. WHILE ON THE SECOND LEG, THE STUDENT ENCOUNTERED WHAT HE CALLED SEVERE TURBULENCE, AND DIVERTED TO THE CLOSEST ARPT FOR LANDING. ACCORDING TO HIS DRAWN ACCOUNT OF THE ACCIDENT, HE APPLIED FULL POWER JUST BEFORE CROSSING THE END OF THE RUNWAY, TOUCHED DOWN, ROLLED FOR A SHORT DISTANCE THEN LIFTED OFF IN A RIGHT CLIMBING TURN. THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED OVER ONE LINE OF TREES BUT IMPACTED A SECOND GROUP OF TREES AND THE TERRAIN. RUNWAY 35 WAS USED, AND A WITNESS SAID THE WINDS WERE FROM 330 DEGREES AT 20 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 30 KNOTS.
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: 53 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,091 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 1988; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southeastern University
The flight
- Departed from: TYR Tyler TX at 6:45 pm
- Destination: PRX Paris TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,220 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.