Cessna 152 accident near Tonopah, Arizona, May 17, 1986
On May 17, 1986 at about 3:10 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N714UL, was destroyed in an accident near Tonopah, Arizona (Phoenix-Goodyear airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- May 17, 1986 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Tonopah, Arizona · Phoenix-Goodyear · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N714UL · no longer on the register · serial 152794422
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A TRUCK DURING TAKEOFF GROUND RUN FROM AN INTERSTATE. THE PLT INDICATED THE ACFT HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL ON THE X-COUNTRY FLT AND HE HAD NOT REFUELED AT THE DEPARTURE POINT. HE LANDED ON THE INTERSTATE WITHOUT INCIDENT AND SENT HIS PAX FOR FUEL. THE PAX RETURNED WITH APPROXIMATELY 10 GALS OF 100 LL. SEVERAL TRUCKERS STOPPED THE HWY TRAFFIC IN THE EASTBOUND LANES SO THE PLT COULD TAKEOFF. A TRUCK WAS PARKED APPROXIMATELY 600 FT FROM THE START POINT IN THE RIGHT EMERGENCY LANE (SOUTH SIDE OF EASTBOUND LANES.) THE PLT INITIATED A SOLO TAKEOFF FROM THE INTERSTATE AND THE ACFT ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 40 KNOTS. AS THE ACFT PASSED THE TRUCK THE RIGHT WING TIP STRUCK THE REAR CORNER OF THE TRUCK GROUND LOOPING THE ACFT INTO THE TRUCK'S LEFT SIDE. THE WINDS AT AN AIRPORT LOCATED 40 MILES TO THE EAST WERE REPORTED FROM THE NORTH AT 12 KNOTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 103 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 72 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,922 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 10, 1986; 106 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: GYR Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:46 pm from PRC, 88 miles away
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.