Cessna 152 accident near Bangor, Maine, October 27, 1985
On October 27, 1985 at about 9:25 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N69127, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bangor, Maine. 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 27, 1985 · about 9:25 pm local time
- Place
- Bangor, Maine
- 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
- N69127 · no longer on the register · serial 15282502
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT EXPERIENCED AND ENG PWR LOSS ON THE RETURN LEG OF A X-COUNTRY SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLT. CARB HEAT WAS APPLIED AND BANGOR APCH CONTROL WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ENG PROBLEM. THE PLTS ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENG FAILED AND A LANDING WAS MADE IN A FLD WHERE THE ACFT CONTACTED A DITCH AND NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT SHOWED ONE GALLON PLUS ONE QUART OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE ACFT. UNUSEABLE FUEL FOR THE ACFT IS LISTED AS 1.5 GALLONS.
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: 33 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 1985; 4 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: Concord ME
- Destination: Old Town ME
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.