Cessna 152 accident near New Smyrna Bch., Florida, January 1, 1995
On January 1, 1995, a Cessna 152, registered N24457, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Smyrna Bch., Florida (New Smyrna Bch. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO KNOWN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS BY A NONINSTRUMENT-RATED PILOT, AND THE PILOT'S SUBSEQUENT SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOTS' OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 1, 1995
- Place
- New Smyrna Bch., Florida · New Smyrna Bch. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N24457 · no longer on the register · serial 15280266
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED PILOT TOOK OFF IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITH 1 MILE VISIBILITY IN FOG. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF HE LOST SIGHT OF THE GROUND, ENTERED A DIVE, AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 123 hours in all; 9 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,521 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 9, 1994; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 34J New Smyrna Bch FL at 11:45 pm
- Destination: 34J FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 100 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from DAB, 10 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.
Other NTSB records under N24457 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.