Cessna 152 accident near Creve Coeur, Missouri, December 18, 1988
On December 18, 1988 at about 7:10 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N757YE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Creve Coeur, Missouri (Davster Flying Field). 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
- December 18, 1988 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Creve Coeur, Missouri · Davster Flying Field · 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
- N757YE · no longer on the register · serial 15280103
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT SAID THAT AFTER PRACTICING LOCALLY AND RETURNING TO THE BASE AIRPORT, HE DISCOVERED THE WINDS TO BE GREATER THAN ANTICIPATED. ON HIS THIRD ATTEMPT TO LAND, HE BOUNCED TWICE, THEN LOST CONTROL AND HIT NOSE FIRST ON THE RUNWAY. AN EIGHTY DEGREE CROSSWIND OF 18, GUSTING TO 30 KNOTS EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 21 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,519 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1HO Creve Couer MO at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,258 ft by 28 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 18 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from SUS, 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 N757YE 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.