Cessna 152 accident near Ore City, Texas, January 31, 1989
On January 31, 1989 at about 6:58 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N4745B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ore City, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
SLIPPAGE OF THE CENTER CRANKSHAFT BEARING, WHICH RESULTED IN OIL STARVATION AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE #3 CONNECTING ROD. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE AIRCRAFT OWNER'S CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE ENGINE BEYOND THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED OVERHAUL PERIOD, THE DARK NIGHT, THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROADWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE LANDING, AND THE DITCH/CULVERTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 1989 · about 6:58 am local time
- Place
- Ore City, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N4745B · no longer on the register · serial 15283613
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 93 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 93 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 41 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,495 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 8, 1988; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gateway Aviation INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SHV Shreveport LA at 6:30 am
- Destination: DAL Dallas TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 am from GGG, 25 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N4745B the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.