Cessna 152 accident near Boulder City, Nevada, April 3, 2002
On April 3, 2002, a Cessna 152, registered N48908, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boulder City, Nevada (Boulder City Municipal Airport). It was an instructional 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
a loss of engine power due to an undetermined malfunction of the carburetor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 2002
- Place
- Boulder City, Nevada · Boulder City Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N48908 · no longer on the register · serial 15281043
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane made an off airport forced landing following a loss of engine power immediately after departure. After takeoff, upon reaching 300 to 400 feet above ground level (agl), the engine experienced a rapid loss of power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane in a gliding configuration and, after determining that the airplane was unable to reach airport, opted to perform a forced landing in a dry riverbed. While in the landing flare, the airplane collided with vegetation and came to an abrupt stop after impacting a large bush. A review of the airplane's maintenance records disclosed that the engine had a history of ongoing problems with the idle mixture. In an effort to address those problems, the operator had the carburetor overhauled about a week prior the accident. The mixture discrepancy occurred again following the carburetor overhaul. After the accident, an engine examination revealed that spark plugs from the number one cylinder, as well as the top number two plug, appeared dark and sooty, with the bottom number two plug being oily. In addition, the bottom number three and four plugs were covered in lead deposits. Investigators performed an engine run, where it accelerated up to 1,600 revolutions per minute (rpm) and, despite black smoke emitting from the exhaust stack, ran smoothly; after leaning out the mixture, it accelerated up to 2,100 rpm and the exhaust cleared. A detailed examination of the carburetor revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies other than an excessively low idle fuel flow.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 713 hours in all; 126 in this make and model; 209 in the last 90 days; 84 in the last 30 days; 615 as pilot in command; 287 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 15, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,073 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 21, 2002; 61.4 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: 61B Boulder City NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27L, 4,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.