Cessna 152II accident near Jonesboro, Arkansas, June 18, 1986
On June 18, 1986 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Cessna 152II, registered N67490, was destroyed in an accident near Jonesboro, Arkansas. 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
- June 18, 1986 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Jonesboro, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152II · all 152IIs on the register
- Registration
- N67490 · registry record · serial 15281863
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS LEVEL AT 3,000 FEET, AND HAD THE AIRPORT IN SIGHT WHEN HE EXPERIENCED A FLUCTUATION IN ENGINE RPM. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT HE CONTINUED THE FLIGHT BUT THAT THE ENGINE QUIT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVER THE AIRPORT. THE P.I.C. COULD NOT EXPALIN WHY HE CHOSE NOT TO LAND AT THE AIRPORT, AND ATTEMPTED INSTEAD AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT CLIPPED A TREE WITH ITS RIGHT WING AND IMPACTED THE GROUND NOSE FIRST. THERE WAS NO FIRE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRCRAFT HAD TEN GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD WHEN THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED. HE MADE ONE STOP ENROUTE TO HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT, 120NM AWAY.
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: 36 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 9 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,056 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 1, 1985; 57 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: 9M8 Sheridan AR at 5:00 pm
- Destination: JBR Jonesboro AR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:49 pm from JBR, 1 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.