Cessna 152 accident near Gainesville, Florida, August 15, 2000
On August 15, 2000 at about 2:55 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N93589, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gainesville, Florida (Gainsville airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's failure to identify a partial loss of engine power during takeoff roll, and his failure to maintain airspeed while attempting to return to the airport after takeoff resulting in the airplane stalling and descending uncontrolled until impact with trees and the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 2000 · about 2:55 pm local time
- Place
- Gainesville, Florida · Gainsville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N93589 · no longer on the register · serial 15285523
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor stated that during climb after takeoff, the engine lost power and the rpm dropped to about 2,100. He took the controls from the student and initiated a left turn back toward the airport. When he realized he could not make the airport, he landed in trees. A witness stated the engine did not sound like it was producing full power from the beginning of takeoff roll and the airplane made a long takeoff roll using about two thirds of the 4,158 foot runway. After liftoff, the airplane climbed slow and the pilot's initiated a turn to the left with a nose high attitude. The airplane stalled and the left wing dropped. The airplane descended and crashed into the trees. He heard the engine continue to run until the airplane crashed. Postcrash examination of the engine showed the spark plugs were fouled with carbon and lead deposits and the propeller blades were bent forward. The engine was started and operated roughly to 1,700 rpm. After cleaning the plugs and changing the bent propeller, the engine was started and operated to 2,200 rpm, full static rpm.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 778 hours in all; 295 in this make and model; 77 in the last 90 days; 69 in the last 30 days; 673 as pilot in command; 434 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,695 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 9, 2000; 10 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: Philair Flight Center, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: GNV at 2:55 pm
- Destination: DAB Daytona Beach FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 4,158 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from GNV, 1 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N93589 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.