Cessna 152 accident near Bushnell, Florida, April 16, 1992
On April 16, 1992 at about 10:51 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N47343, was destroyed in an accident near Bushnell, Florida. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VSO) WHILE MANEUVERING DURING A FORCED LANDING. THIS RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL, IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL, AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO ENSURE THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR WAS IN THE ON POSITION. THIS RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 1992 · about 10:51 pm local time
- Place
- Bushnell, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N47343 · registry record · serial 15283217
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT DEPARTED ON A VFR MAINTENANCE FLIGHT. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. WITNESSES STATED THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED FROM RUNWAY 09 WITHOUT USING ALL AVAILABLE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE AT MIDFIELD AND CLIMBED TO ABOUT 100-200 FEET AGL WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO PITCH UP 10-20 DEGREES. A WITNESS STATED THE AIRPLANE SLOWED AND THE PROPELLER STOPPED TURNING. THE AIRPLANE MADE A STEEP LEFT TURN ESTIMATED IN EXCESS OF 60 DEGREES ANGLE OF BANK. THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE PITCHED DOWN 60 DEGREES, AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE FUEL SHUTOFF VALVE WAS IN THE OFF POSITION.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,990 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,272 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 6, 1991; 65 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
- Wind: from 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from ORL, 27 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.