Cessna 152 and Beech 35-B33 accident near Jacksonville, Florida, July 29, 2001
On July 29, 2001 at about 2:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 152 (N89803) and Beech 35-B33 (N8660Q), were involved in the same accident near Jacksonville, Florida (Herlong airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot of N89803 to insure his brakes were set and that the airplane was not rolling prior to diverting his attention to duties inside the cockpit, resulting in N89803 rolling forward and colliding with N8660Q which was parked in front of N89803.
The failure of the pilot of N89803 to insure his brakes were set and that the airplane was not rolling prior to diverting his attention to duties inside the cockpit, resulting in N89803 rolling forward and colliding with N8660Q which was parked in front of N89803.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 2001 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Jacksonville, Florida · Herlong · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N89803 · no longer on the register · serial 15282874
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Beech 35-B33 · all 35-B33s on the register
- Registration
- N8660Q · registry record · serial CD-813
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of N89803 stated that while parked on the ramp he was busy putting on a headset when the brakes must have gotten released. The airplane rolled forward and struck N8660Q, which was parked in front of N89803.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Beech 35-B33 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of N89803 stated that while parked on the ramp he was busy putting on a headset when the brakes must have gotten released. The airplane rolled forward and struck N8660Q, which was parked in front of N89803.
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 for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,140 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 12,030 as pilot in command; 11,430 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 3, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,276 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 2001; 10 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: 23J Jacksonville FL at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from JAX, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Beech 35-B33 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 794 hours in all; 390 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 685 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 6, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,573 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 2001; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 23J Jacksonville FL at 2:00 pm
- Destination: PNS Pensacola FL
- Flight plan: IFR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N89803 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.