Cessna 152 accident near Plymouth, Massachusetts, August 2, 1997
On August 2, 1997 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N89242, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plymouth, Massachusetts (Plymouth Municipal 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
Inadequate compensation for wind conditions by the pilot. A related factor was the crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1997 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Plymouth, Massachusetts · Plymouth Municipal
- 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
- N89242 · no longer on the register · serial 15282686
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot departed the area to practice maneuvers. On his return, the winds had increased, and he performed a go-around during his first approach. During his second approach to land on runway 33, the airplane touched down hard, bounced, veered off the right side of the runway, and nosed over. The reported winds at the time of the accident were from 270 degrees at 13 knots, with gusts to 22 knots. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane or the engine, and that he used runway 33 as that was the only open runway.
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: 34 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,300 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 4, 1997; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PYM MA at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,501 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 13 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 pm from PYM
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.