Cessna 152 accident near Guthrie, Oklahoma, November 18, 1993
On November 18, 1993 at about 5:10 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N45968, was substantially damaged in an accident near Guthrie, Oklahoma. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC. A FACTOR WAS FOG.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 1993 · about 5:10 am local time
- Place
- Guthrie, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N45968 · no longer on the register · serial 15282966
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING AND FILED A VFR FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT WAS ADVISED NUMEROUS TIMES THAT FOG WAS MOVING INTO THE AREA. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE COULD SEE THE FOG AND WOULD CONTINUE TO THE DESTINATION. ATC CONTINUED TO ADVISE THE PILOT ABOUT THE FOG AND THE LOCATION OF AN AIRPORT WITH VFR WEATHER. THE PILOT ADVISED ATC THAT HE WOULD OVERFLY THE PLANNED DESTINATION AND DECIDE IF THEY COULD LAND VFR OR WOULD CHANGE TO AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT REPORTED THE LIGHTS OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT AND REQUESTED A FREQUENCY CHANGE. THERE WAS NO REQUEST FOR AN IFR CLEARANCE AND THE AIRPLANE MANEUVERED IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT RATED PASSENGER HELD AN INSTRUMENT RATING BUT WAS NOT CURRENT. WITNESSES REPORTED FOG.
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: 84 hours in all; 25 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,379 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 13, 1993; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 0F2 Bowie TX at 3:12 am
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 160° at 3 knots
- Sky: overcast at 100 ft; not recorded at 100 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.