Cessna 152 accident near Opa Locka, Florida, November 25, 1990
On November 25, 1990 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N25053, was substantially damaged in an accident near Opa Locka, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB WHILE MANEUVERING TO AVOID A FLOCK OF BIRDS, RESULTING IN AN IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TREES. FACTOR(S) INCLUDED: ATTENTION DIVERTED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 25, 1990 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Opa Locka, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N25053 · registry record · serial 15280517
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED OPA LOCKA AIRPORT, OPA LOCKA, FLORIDA, VFR EN ROUTE TO AN OUTLYING AIRPORT, TO CONDUCT TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS WHILE ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. DURING A TAKE OFF FROM THE OUTLYING AIRPORT, BIRDS ENTERED THE AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT PATH ON THE INITIAL CLIMB. THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE TO AVOID A BIRD STRIKE, WITHOUT ESTABLISHING A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB, AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE FLIGHT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL DEPARTURE AIRPORT AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 464 hours in all; 399 in this make and model; 139 in the last 90 days; 107 in the last 30 days; 309 as pilot in command; 95 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,125 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 20, 1990; 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 9, 5,002 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:47 pm from OPF, 5 miles away
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.
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.