Yakovlev YAK 52 accident near East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, August 25, 2018
On August 25, 2018 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1982 Yakovlev YAK 52, registered N3042W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania (Stroudsburg-Pocono airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 2018 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania · Stroudsburg-Pocono · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Yakovlev YAK 52 No Series, built 1982 · all YAK 52s on the register
- Registration
- N3042W · no longer on the register · serial 822209
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during landing, on short final, he decided to go around. He added that, during the go-around, the airplane "developed a severe vibration," so he made a precautionary landing with the gear retracted. The airplane slid, exited the runway, and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the external longerons on the lower fuselage and engine mounts. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Landing gear not configured during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Not used/operated
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 905.7 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 826.5 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 23, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,270 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 1, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,899 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Vegeneev M14P (piston); 270 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N53 East Stroudsburg PA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: N53 East Stroudsburg PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,087 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KMPO, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.