Cessna 152 accident near Rossville, Tennessee, July 5, 2008
On July 5, 2008 at about 7:22 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5372B, was destroyed in an accident near Rossville, Tennessee (Olive Branch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Undetermined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 2008 · about 7:22 pm local time
- Place
- Rossville, Tennessee · Olive Branch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5372B · no longer on the register · serial 15283851
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot took both a written and practical examination before he was permitted to rent the accident airplane. The examinations were performed in the accident airplane in the morning, with no anomalies noted, but the pilot delayed his solo departure until the afternoon due to weather. Radar data from the Federal Aviation Administration, for the last minute of the afternoon flight, revealed a target that was identified as the accident airplane in cruise flight at about 2,400 feet, on an approximate heading of 020 degrees magnetic. The last three radar returns depicted the airplane in a descending left turn as follows: at 1422:19, 2,400 feet, at 1422:28, 2,200 feet, and at 1422:33, at 1,700 feet. A review of voice recordings revealed that the pilot transmitted the airplane's registration number and then a "mayday" three times before voice communication was lost. There were no witnesses; however, examination of the wreckage and the crash site revealed evidence consistent with a power-on, near-vertical descent and no preimpact mechanical anomalies. Interviews with the pilot’s roommates revealed that the pilot had been interviewed by federal investigators at his place of employment the previous evening, and upon his arrival home he asked where he could rent a small airplane. Concerned for his personal welfare, the roommates drove to the departure airport and spoke with the pilot upon the completion of his practical exam, and expressed their concern. The pilot declined their invitation for lunch, and later departed on the accident flight.
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
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during unknown defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,850 hours in all; 390 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,658 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 3, 2008; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Venture Flight Center
The flight
- Departed from: OLV Olive Branch MS at 6:39 pm
- Destination: OLV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from OLV, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N5372B 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.