Cessna 152 accident near Waco, Texas, April 7, 1995
On April 7, 1995 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N94534, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waco, Texas. It was an instructional 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
TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR REASONS UNDETERMINED. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 1995 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Waco, Texas · map
- 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
- N94534 · registry record · serial 15285709
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR CLOSED THE THROTTLE AND APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT TO SIMULATE AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE STUDENT CONFIGURED THE AIRPLANE FOR A FORCED LANDING APPROACH AND REVIEWED THE ENGINE RESTART PROCEDURES. WHEN HE REALIZED HE WAS TOO HIGH FOR THE SELECTED FIELD, THE STUDENT DEPLOYED FULL FLAPS. THE INSTRUCTOR NOTICED A HIGH DESCENT RATE HAD DEVELOPED AND TOLD THE STUDENT TO ABANDON THE APPROACH. THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND WHEN FULL THROTTLE WAS APPLIED AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH MESQUITE TREES. THE ENGINE WAS LATER FUNCTIONALLY TESTED AND NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,525 hours in all; 1,126 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 1,298 as pilot in command; 1,082 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,120 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 22, 1995; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNW TX at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from ACT, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.