Cessna 152 accident near Statesville, North Carolina, August 4, 2001
On August 4, 2001 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N96064, was substantially damaged in an accident near Statesville, North Carolina (Allison Woods airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's attempted takeoff with a tail wind and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff resulting in the airplane veering to the left and colliding with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 2001 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Statesville, North Carolina · Allison Woods · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N96064 · no longer on the register · serial 15286003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he was performing a soft field takeoff to the north at Allison Woods Airstrip. The instruments showed everything was in order. At a speed of about 55 knots, the airplane veered to the left. The left wingtip hit the trees and the airplane spun around and came to rest in the trees. The winds at the Statesville Airport, located 5 miles southwest of the accident site, about 12 minutes after the accident, were from 180 degrees at 6 knots.
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: 112 hours in all; 107 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 2, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SVH Statesville NC at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 8:42 pm from SVH, 5 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.