Cessna 152 accident near Essex, Missouri, January 26, 1982
On January 26, 1982 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N89772, was substantially damaged in an accident near Essex, Missouri. 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 26, 1982 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Essex, Missouri · map
- 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
- N89772 · no longer on the register · serial 15282861
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT DEPARTED ON A SOLO, CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. A COMFORT STOP WAS MADE AT AN ENROUTE AIRPORT DURING THE FIRST LEG OF THE FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT WAS THEN CONTINUED TO THE FIRST PRE-PLANNED DESTINATION. AFTER TAKING OFF ON THE SECOND LEG, THE STUDENT BECAME LOST AND LANDED AT THE FIRST AIRPORT THAT SHE SAW. AFTER LANDING, SHE LEARNED THAT SHE HAD GONE 60 MILES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE STUDENT THEN DEPARTED ON A FLIGHT BACK TO HER HOME BASE. ENROUTE SHE BECAME DISORIENTED. WITH NIGHT APPROACHING, SHE ELECTED TO LAND IN A FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL AT DUSK, THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED INTO AN ADJACENT DARK COLORED FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED FURROWS IN THE DARK COLORED FIELD AND NOSED OVER.
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: 25 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,823 hours
- 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: Hal Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Mt Vernon IL
- Destination: Kennett MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 170° at 8 knots
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:00 pm from CGI, 28 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.