Cessna 152 accident near Macon, Georgia, December 14, 1995
On December 14, 1995 at about 7:55 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N48959, was substantially damaged in an accident near Macon, Georgia (Herbert Smart Downtown airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO ASSURE AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF FUEL WAS AVAILABLE FOR THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 14, 1995 · about 7:55 am local time
- Place
- Macon, Georgia · Herbert Smart Downtown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N48959 · no longer on the register · serial 15283394
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND SAFETY PILOT WERE ON THE RETURN LEG OF A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT; NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. DURING APPROACH TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT THE ENGINE LOST POWER, AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN IN A CLAY PIT 1/4 MILE FROM THE RUNWAY. A POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THERE WAS LESS THAN 1/2 GALLON OF FUEL LEFT IN THE TANKS, AND THERE WAS NO FUEL FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR.
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 212 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,975 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AGS Augusta GA at 4:00 am
- Destination: MAC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 4,695 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 am from MCN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.