Cessna 152 accident near La Belle, Florida, January 6, 1983
On January 6, 1983 at about 10:52 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N89225, was destroyed in an accident near La Belle, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- January 6, 1983 · about 10:52 pm local time
- Place
- La Belle, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N89225 · registry record · serial 15282681
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT ABOUT 1720 A COMMERCIAL PLT LANDED AT LA BELLE ARPT & REPORTED THAT THE CEILING WAS RAGGED IN NATURE, SOME 200-300 FTOFF THE GROUND, WITH VISIBILITY 2 MI IN DRIZZLE. AS HE WAS LEAVING THE ARPT HE NOTICED 2 MEN SITTING IN A BLUE & WHILE C-152. AFTER ARRIVING AT HIS HOME, LOCATED 1-1/2 MI FROM THE ARPT, HE OBSERVED A BLUE & WHILE C-152 AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL.HE HEARD AN ENG SOUND OF 'EXTREME HIGH R.P.M AND THEN SUDDEN ENGINE STOPPAGE.' HE THEN DROVE BACK TO THE ARPT & FOUND THE BLUE & WHITE C-152 MISSING. THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED THE GROUND AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AT A DESCENT ANGLE OF NEAR 15 DEG NOSE DOWN. THE PLT'S BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT (BAC) WAS 0.15% & HIS GASTRIC BAC WAS 0.449%.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 20 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 589 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 30, 1982; 42 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: X-14 La Belle FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,500 ft; scat at 700 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from FMY, 27 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.