Cessna 152 accident near Marana, Arizona, July 8, 1985
On July 8, 1985 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5204P, was destroyed in an accident near Marana, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 1985 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Marana, Arizona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5204P · registry record · serial 15284894
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PASSENGER HAD JUST PURCHASED PROPERTY AT THE ACCIDENT SITE AND INTENDED TO TAKE AERIAL VIDEO TAPE FOOTAGE OF THE PROPERTY. WITNESSES SAW THE PLT AND PASSENGER BOARD THE ACFT WITH VIDEO CAMERA AND RECORDER. AFTER DEPARTUE, THE ACFT FLEW DIRECTLY TO THE ACCIDENT SITE AND PROCEEDED TO DO STEEP BANK TURNS ABOUT 100 FT AGL. WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT ABRUPTLY PITCH DOWN AND ROLL TO THE RIGHT, IMPACTING ON THE RIGHT WING TIP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ACFT DEPARTED AT A MINIMUM OF 82 POUNDS OVER GROSS WITH THE CG AT THE AFT LIMIT. ACCORDING TO CESSNA SUPPLY DATA, THE EFFECT OF THE 82 POUND OVER WEIGHT CONDITION WOULD BE A 2.5% INCREASE IN THE PWR OFF STALL SPEED. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,366 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1985; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Arva Valley Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: E14 Marana AZ at 3:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:46 pm from TUS, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.