Cessna 152 and Piper PA-28-151 accident near Jacksonville, Florida, January 19, 1989
On January 19, 1989 at about 9:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 152 (N89803) and Piper PA-28-151 (N32816), were involved in the same accident near Jacksonville, Florida (Herlong airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE CESSNA 152 PILOT MISJUDGED CLEARANCE BETWEEN HIS AIRCRAFT AND THE PARKED PIPER PA-28.
THE CESSNA 152 PILOT MISJUDGED CLEARANCE BETWEEN HIS AIRCRAFT AND THE PARKED PIPER PA-28.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 19, 1989 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Jacksonville, Florida · Herlong · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N89803 · no longer on the register · serial 15282874
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N32816 · registry record · serial 28-7515249
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PIPER PA-28, N32816, WAS PARKED ON A RAMP WITH THE ENGINE OPERATING AS A CESSNA 152, N89803, WAS BEING MANEUVERED TO PARK IN THE SAME AREA AFTER THE PILOT HAD LANDED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE CESSNA'S RIGHT WING MOVED INTO THE ARC OF THE PA-28'S ROTATING PROPELLER. THIS RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE CESSNA'S WING & MINOR DAMAGE TO THE PA-28. A CHECK OF THE CESSNA'S NOSE GEAR STEERING & BRAKES REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-151 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PIPER PA-28, N32816, WAS PARKED ON A RAMP WITH THE ENGINE OPERATING AS A CESSNA 152, N89803, WAS BEING MANEUVERED TO PARK IN THE SAME AREA AFTER THE PILOT HAD LANDED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE CESSNA'S RIGHT WING MOVED INTO THE ARC OF THE PA-28'S ROTATING PROPELLER. THIS RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE CESSNA'S WING & MINOR DAMAGE TO THE PA-28. A CHECK OF THE CESSNA'S NOSE GEAR STEERING & BRAKES REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.
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 for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 42 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 9 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,658 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1988; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 pm from CRG, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-28-151 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 235 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.
Other NTSB records under N89803 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.