Cessna 152 accident near Ronkonkoma, New York, March 30, 1982
On March 30, 1982 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N757QC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ronkonkoma, New York (Maccarthur airport). 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
- March 30, 1982 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ronkonkoma, New York · Maccarthur · 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
- N757QC · no longer on the register · serial 152729911
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THE STUDENT WAS ON A LOCAL FLIGHT, THE WIND SHIFTED FROM 240 DEGREES (DOWN THE RUNWAY) TO 180 DEGREES. AFTER RETURNING, THE STUDENT ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING ON RUNWAY 24. THE DOWNWIND LEG WAS EXTENDED TO ACCOMMODATE DEPARTING TRAFFIC. WHEN ON A SHORT FINAL APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN DRIFTING RIGHT, WHILE THE STUDENT WAS CORRECTING HIS ALIGNMENT. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE RUNWAY HARD, BOUNCED, THEN DEPARTED THE RUNWAY. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT STRUCK A RUNWAY LIGHT AND FLIPPED 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: 33 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,370 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: Suffolk CO Police Pilots Assoc
The flight
- Departed from: Ronkonkoma NY at 11:20 am
- Destination: Ronkonkoma NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 5,999 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 122°F (50°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:29 pm from ISP
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.