Cessna 152 accident near Caldwell, New Jersey, January 13, 1986
On January 13, 1986 at about 6:05 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N68214, was substantially damaged in an accident near Caldwell, New Jersey (Essex County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- January 13, 1986 · about 6:05 pm local time
- Place
- Caldwell, New Jersey · Essex County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N68214 · no longer on the register · serial 15282190
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT AND INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WERE PERFORMING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS. ON THE THIRD TOUCH-AND-GO, THE STUDENT ROTATED THE ACFT AND INITIATED HIS CLIMB. THE CFI STATED 'I REALIZED THE ACFT WAS NOT CLIMBING AND THAT THE FLAPS WERE NOT RETRACTED EVEN THOUGH THE FLAP INDICATOR SWITCH WAS IN THE FLAP UP (ZERO DEGREE) POSITION.' HE STATED THAT HE LOWERED THE NOSE AND RECYCLED THE FLAPS, BUT THEY REMAINED DOWN. THERE WAS A MUNICIPAL COMPLEX, A SCHOOL & A BUSY STREET AHEAD, SO THE CFI MADE A TURN BACK TOWARD THE ARPT. DURING THE TURN, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AND CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM OF THE ACFT WAS VERIFIED DURING THE POST ACDNT INVESTIGATION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 747 hours in all; 341 in this make and model; 321 in the last 90 days; 590 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,620 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CDW at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,720 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 8,000 ft; scat at 500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.