Cessna 152 accident near Nashua, New Hampshire, February 24, 1986
On February 24, 1986 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N303DW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nashua, New Hampshire (Boire 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
- February 24, 1986 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Nashua, New Hampshire · Boire Field
- 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
- N303DW · registry record · serial 152285458
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PERFORMING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AT BOIRE FIELD WHEN HE APPLIED POWER TO TAKEOFF, HE WAS DISTRACTED BY THE FLAP CONTROL SETTING. DURING THIS DISTRACTION THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. FULL RIGHT RUDDER WAS USED IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT, HOWEVER THE PLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT IN A SKID. DAMAGED LEFT AND RIGHT WINGTIPS, REAR SPAR OF LEFT AND RIGHT WING, PROPELLER AND SPINNER, DOOR FRAME, RIGHT REAR WINDOW, AND SKIN.
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: 23 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,932 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Davidson Flight Service,Inc.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.