Cessna 152 accident near Boca Raton, Florida, October 30, 1986
On October 30, 1986 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N93588, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boca Raton, Florida (Boca Raton 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 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
- October 30, 1986 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Boca Raton, Florida · Boca Raton · 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
- N93588 · no longer on the register · serial 15285522
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS ABOUT TO CONDUCT HIS FIRST TOUCH-&-GO LDG AFTER A LOCAL SOLO TRAINING FLT. ON THE FIRST LDG, HE SAID HE MADE A 'SLIGHT BOUNCE' & HE LEVELED THE ACFT & SET UP FOR ANOTHER FLARE. HE SAID THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN ON THE MAINS BUT WHEN THE NOSE GEAR CAME DOWN, IT COLLAPSED. THERE ARE NO KNOWN WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE SURFACE WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE LISTED AS 130 DEGS AT 9 KTS, OR A 50 DEG RIGHT X-WIND. A POST ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE NOSE GEAR ASSY REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE & INSPECTION REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE NOSE WHEEL WAS CONSISTENT WITH A LANDING ON THE NOSE WHEEL. THE STUDENT PLT HAD A TOTAL OF ABOUT 47 HRS.
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: 47 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,251 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 15, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BCT at 6:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 5,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:48 pm from FLL, 14 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.
Other NTSB records under N93588 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.