Cessna 152 accident near Clear Lake, Iowa, October 9, 1983
On October 9, 1983 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N69035, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clear Lake, Iowa. 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
- October 9, 1983 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Clear Lake, Iowa · 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
- N69035 · no longer on the register · serial 15282451
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT WAS ON A X-COUNTRY FLT THAT HAD ORIGINATED AT AMES, IA. WHILE ENROUTE, HE HAD LANDED AT CARROLL, IA, BUT DID NOT REFUEL. HE STATED THAT HE WAS ON A LONG, RIGHT BASE LEG TO LAND ON RWY 12 AT THE MASON CITY MUNI ARPT WHEN THE ENG BEGAN LOOSING POWER. AT THAT TIME, HE NOTED THAT THE LEFT FUEL GAGE INDICATED NEARLY EMPTY WHILE THE RIGHT GAGE INDICATED APRX 1/2 FULL. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENG. DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A PLOWED FIELD, THE ACFT NOSED OVER. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER OF THE ACFT, THERE WAS NO FUEL REMAINING IN THE ACFT.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 68 hours in all; 68 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 36 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,389 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 1983; 6 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: CIN Carroll IA at 5:45 pm
- Destination: AMW Ames IA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 12, 5,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:58 pm from MCW, 8 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.