Cessna 152 accident near Clinton, Arkansas, October 18, 1996
On October 18, 1996 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5463L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clinton, Arkansas (Clinton Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, and his failure to obtain or maintain sufficient airspeed during the aborted landing, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and collision with the terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 18, 1996 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Clinton, Arkansas · Clinton Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5463L · registry record · serial 152-84319
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses at an airport reported that the pilot was executing touch and go landings on runway 31. The witnesses added that on the flight's third landing, the airplane landed hard and bounced twice. According to the pilot, on the second bounce, the airplane touched down on the left main tire, bouncing the airplane to the left. The airplane was observed in a nose high attitude as full power was heard being applied to abort the landing. Witnesses stated that the flaps remained extended as the airplane 'hung on its prop as it labored to stay airborne at approximately 100 feet off the ground.' The airplane drifted to the left of the runway centerline and headed towards a barn and a line of tall trees at the departure end of the runway. On an NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that 'with the flaps down, I could not gain the airspeed or altitude need[ed] to get over a line of trees in front of the aircraft.' The pilot added that the left wing impacted the ground as he attempted to maneuver to avoid the obstacles.
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: 13 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,997 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 6, 1996; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4M4 at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 4,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:23 pm from FLP, 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 N5463L 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.