Cessna 152 accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO, May 22, 1984
On May 22, 1984 at about 10:51 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N68760, was destroyed in an accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- May 22, 1984 · about 10:51 pm local time
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean, AO
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N68760 · no longer on the register · serial 15282361
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT WAS ON THE 3RD LEG OF A SOLO, X-COUNTRY FLT. ON THE 2ND LEG, HE ASKED FOR A DF STEER TO REACH THE ARPT. DURING LUNCH, HE DISCUSSED THE SITUATION WITH HIS INSTRUCTOR, WHO WAS AT THE ARPT WITH ANOTHER STUDENT. THE SOLO STUDENT DEPARTED AT 1455 EDT, EN ROUTE FROM VERO BEACH TO OPA-LOCKA. AT ABOUT 1620, HE CALLED PALM BEACH TOWER TO REPORT THAT HE WAS LOST OVER WATER. FOR AN HOUR & A HALF, GROUND & AIR PARTIES TRIED TO LOCATE HIM, BUT THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. AT ABOUT 1847, THE PLT STATED ON THE RADIO THAT HE HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL & WAS DITCHING. AT ABOUT 1851, A BRITISH AIRCREW MADE CONTACT WITH THE PLT WHO STATED THAT HE WAS IN THE WATER & ASKED WHAT HE SHOULD DO. HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO EXIT THE ACFT & USE THE SEAT CUSHI0NS FOR FLOTATION. NO FURTHER CONTACT WAS ESTABLISHED. THE SEARCH WAS SUSPENDED ON 5/27/84. THE PLT INJURY & ACFT DAMAGE ARE PRESUMED.
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
- Flight time: 53 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 8, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VRB Vero Beach FL at 6:55 pm
- Destination: OPF Opa-Locka FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; scat at 500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from MIA
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.