Cessna 152 accident near Wichita Falls, Texas, January 5, 1993
On January 5, 1993 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N4870B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wichita Falls, Texas (Kickapoo airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 5, 1993 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wichita Falls, Texas · Kickapoo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N4870B · no longer on the register · serial 15283685
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 57 HOUR PRIVATE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AS HE APPLIED THE BRAKES DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND IMPACTED A DRAINAGE DITCH. THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER, COMING TO REST INVERTED. EXAMINATION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM REVEALED NO ANOMALIES.
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: 57 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 22 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,937 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 1993; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-235-L2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LAW Lawton OK at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,216 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from SPS, 9 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.
Other NTSB records under N4870B 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.