Cessna 152 accident near La Belle, Florida, February 25, 1991
On February 25, 1991 at about 7:28 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N25938, was destroyed in an accident near La Belle, Florida. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND/CFI IMPROPER SUPERVISION OF THE DUAL STUDENT. THIS RESULTED IN AN IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL, STALL/SPIN, AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN FOR FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING IN A TURN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 1991 · about 7:28 pm local time
- Place
- La Belle, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N25938 · no longer on the register · serial 15280869
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIC/CFI WAS CONDUCTING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WITH A STUDENT PILOT. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED 300 FEET AGL ABOVE THE APPROACH END OF THE ACTIVE RUNWAY, WHEN THE AIRPLANE MADE A SUDDEN TURN TO THE LEFT WITH A 45 DEGREE ANGLE OF BANK. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED IN THE TURN BACK ACROSS THE RUNWAY WHEN THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE PITCHED DOWN 90 DEGREES. THE AIRPLANE DISAPPEARED BELOW THE TREE LINE AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE PIC/CFI AND STUDENT PILOT WERE KILLED. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 524 hours in all; 522 in this make and model; 272 in the last 90 days; 102 in the last 30 days; 439 as pilot in command; 334 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tamiami Aircraft Serv., INC.
The flight
- Departed from: FMY Fort Myers FL at 7:01 pm
- Destination: PHK Pahokee FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 19,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from FMY, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.