Cessna 152 accident near Melbourne, Florida, April 19, 1987
On April 19, 1987 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N24511, was substantially damaged in an accident near Melbourne, Florida. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- April 19, 1987 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Melbourne, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N24511 · no longer on the register · serial 152-80299
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE IN FLIGHT AND LANDED THE AIRCRAFT IN A PASTURE. HE THEN RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND TOOK OFF, AFTER TAKE OFF THE ENGINE FAILED TWO TIMES AND HE RESTARTED IT. THE ENGINE FAILED THE THIRD TIME AND HE COULD NOT START IT. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE NOSE WHEEL HIT A DITCH AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE RIGHT FUEL TANK REVEALED IT WAS EMPTY AND THE LT FUEL TANK CONTAINED ABOUT 2 QUARTS OF FUEL.
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: 32 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 9 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,843 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 28, 1987; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,640 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SRQ Sarasota FL at 1:30 pm
- Destination: MLB Melbourne FL
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 14 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from MLB, 16 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.