Cessna 152 accident near Clewiston, Florida, June 23, 2019
On June 23, 2019 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 1980 Cessna 152, registered N5096L, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Clewiston, Florida (Airglades airport). 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 student pilot's maneuver to the left to avoid striking birds during takeoff and his subsequent loss of directional control after aborting the takeoff and landing on soft, muddy grass adjacent to the runway during, which resulted in a nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2019 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Clewiston, Florida · Airglades · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 No Series, built 1980 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5096L · registry record · serial 15284262
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that, during takeoff, a flock of birds crossed the runway from the right. He tried to climb and turn the airplane to the left to avoid striking the birds, but some of the birds continued in front of the airplane. The airplane drifted beyond the left side of the runway about 10 to 15 ft above ground level. He aborted the takeoff, landed on the soft grass adjacent to the runway, and the airplane nosed over. The student added that, "the grass was so muddy that [it was] very hard to control the plane," and "too much friction made my airplane flip over." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Wet/muddy terrain › Effect on operation
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 59.7 hours in all; 59.7 in this make and model; 29.1 in the last 90 days; 9.8 in the last 30 days; 6.5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,651.1 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 10, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IMM Immokalee FL at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 2IS Clewiston FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 13, 5,901 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from KOBE, 34 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 6, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Airport Operations Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.