Cessna 152 accident near Hialeah, Florida, July 26, 2002
On July 26, 2002 at about 12:10 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N4893H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hialeah, Florida (Opa-Locka West airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll resulting in the on-ground collision with a ditch and subsequent nose over of the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2002 · about 12:10 pm local time
- Place
- Hialeah, Florida · Opa-Locka West · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N4893H · no longer on the register · serial 15284004
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight initially departed the North Perry Airport, Hollywood, Florida, with a student pilot and certified flight instructor (CFI) on board, then proceeded to the Opa-Locka West Airport where the student performed touch-and-go landings. The CFI then deplaned and the student pilot departed on a solo flight remaining in the traffic pattern. The student pilot later reported that after touchdown he let the airplane roll before adding power. He then "slowly" added power and as the power increased, the airplane began drifting to the left. He applied right rudder input but the airplane continued drifting to the left. He reduced the power after recognizing that the airplane was departing the side of the runway where the airplane traveled into a ditch and nosed over. The pilot's certified flight instructor (CFI) who witnessed the accident reported seeing the pilot land the airplane on the runway centerline and he "greased it on." She then noted that the airplane drifted to the left onto grass and into a ditch where the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane by an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 10 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,500 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 2002; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X46 Hialeah FL at 12:05 pm
- Destination: X46
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KOPF, 8 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.