Cessna 152 accident near Garland, Texas, August 23, 1998
On August 23, 1998 at about 6:02 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N757KA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Garland, Texas. 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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 1998 · about 6:02 pm local time
- Place
- Garland, Texas · 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
- N757KA · no longer on the register · serial 152-79790
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 32 hour student pilot was in cruise flight at 2,500 feet MSL on his first solo cross country flight when the engine RPM dropped to 1,500 RPM without warning. The pilot established a glide into the prevailing wind for a forced landing to a nearby open field located 12 miles southeast from his destination airport. The pilot further stated that prior to turning base leg, he declared an emergency on 121.5 giving his approximate position. The pilot elected 'not to extend the flaps over 10 degrees to make sure the airplane would clear the power lines at the north end of the field.' The FAA inspector established that the engine had not seized and confirmed that fuel was available from both wing tanks. The engine was successfully ran following replacement of the damaged propeller. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. A completed NTSB Form 6120.1/2 was not received from the pilot or the operator.
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: 32 hours in all; 32 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TYR Tyler TX at 5:10 pm
- Destination: ADS Dallas TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 13 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:47 pm from ADS, 12 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.