Cessna 152 accident near Glencoe, Oklahoma, January 6, 1990
On January 6, 1990 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5414P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glencoe, Oklahoma. 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 POWER LOSS DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE, WHICH RESULTED FROM THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ENGAGE CARBURETOR HEAT IN A TIMELY MANNER. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 6, 1990 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Glencoe, Oklahoma · map
- 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
- N5414P · no longer on the register · serial 84939
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A SOLO SESSION, A STUDENT PILOT ATTEMPTED TO DO A PRACTICE FORCED LANDING. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE VMC; HOWEVER, THE TEMPERATURE WAS 45 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND THE DEW POINT WAS 28 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED RECOVERY BY ADVANCING THE THROTTLE AND APPLYING CARBURETOR HEAT SIMULTANEOUSLY. BECAUSE OF THE LATE APPLICATION OF CARBURETOR HEAT, ICING FORMED AND THE RECOVERY FROM THE PRACTICE FORCED LANDING COULD NOT BE ACCOMPLISHED. A FORCED LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED TO A ROAD; HOWEVER, VEHICULAR TRAFFIC FORCED THE PILOT TO CHANGE LANDING SITES. THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED TREES AND DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL TO GROUND IMPACT. CONDITIONS WERE CONSISTENT WITH SERIOUS ICING POTENTIAL AT A GLIDE POWER SETTING.
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
- Flight time: 44 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Stillwater Flight Center, INC
The flight
- Departed from: SWO Stillwater OK at 5:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Observation at 5:46 pm from WDG, 20 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.