Cessna 152 accident near West Palm Beach, Florida, November 11, 1990
On November 11, 1990 at about 5:42 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N68744, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Palm Beach, Florida (Palm Beach International 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
PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO LAND ON A RUNWAY THAT WAS MORE ALIGNED WITH THE WIND. FACTORS WERE: CROSSWIND AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 1990 · about 5:42 pm local time
- Place
- West Palm Beach, Florida · Palm Beach International
- 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
- N68744 · no longer on the register · serial 15282352
- 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 PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, THE WIND WAS CALM. AFTER COMPLETION OF SEVERAL TOUCH-&-GO LANDING, THE PILOT RETURNED TO LAND. WHILE ON APPROACH HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTH AT 14 KNOTS. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE ACFT ROLLED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVESTED. THE HOURLY SURFACE OBSERVATION TAKEN AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT REPORTED THE WIND TO BE FROM THE NORTH AT 12 KNTS WITH GUSTS TO 20. RWY 31 WAS AVAILABLE. ACCORDING TO THE PLT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK, THE MAXIMUM DEMONSTRATED CROSSWIND COMPONENT IS 12 KTS.
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: 55 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ 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: Chandelle Aviation, CORP. LTD.
The flight
- Departed from: LNA at 5:32 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9R, 3,152 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:42 pm from PBI
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.