Cessna 152 accident near Pittsfield, Massachusetts, March 29, 1986
On March 29, 1986 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N49107, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pittsfield, Massachusetts (Pittsfield). 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 29, 1986 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Pittsfield, Massachusetts · Pittsfield
- 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
- N49107 · no longer on the register · serial 15283420
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA 152 WAS MAKING A TOUCH AND GO. THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THE LANDING WAS GOOD AND WHEN HE APPLIED POWER, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED LEFT OFF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK A DITCH AND FLIPPED OVER. THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED AND THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT WHEN POWER WAS APPLIED HE DID NOT RETRACT THE FLAPS AND THE AIRCRAFT STARTED WEAVING. HE THEN APPLIED TO MUCH RUDDER TO CORRECT THE WEAVING AND INCREASED THE PROBLEM.
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: 14 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,620 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 15, 1985; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 26, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- 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.