Cessna 152 accident near Hallstead, Pennsylvania, May 10, 1986
On May 10, 1986 at about 1:45 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N65618, was destroyed in an accident near Hallstead, Pennsylvania (Kirkwood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- May 10, 1986 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Hallstead, Pennsylvania · Kirkwood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N65618 · registry record · serial 15281654
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPORT IS LOCATED IN A VALLEY BETWEEN TWO ROWS OF MOUNTAINS ON THE NY/PA BORDER. THE PLT HAD COMPLETED TWO TAKEOFF AND LANDINGS TO A FULL STOP AT NIGHT FOR NIGHT CURRENCY. AFTER TAKEOFF AND LEVELING OFF AT 2,000 FEET MSL AND DOWNWIND FOR A LEFT BASE TO RUNWAY 33, PLT WAS ABEAM APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 33 BEFORE LANDING CHECK COMPLETED, AND A 500 RATE OF DESCENT WAS ESTABLISHED. AFTER A LEFT TURN WAS MADE, PLT TURNED ON LANDING LIGHT, AND SAW THE TREES IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF HIM, AND HAD NO TIME TO REACT AND EXPERIENCED IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TREES.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 383 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 306 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,006 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 2, 1986; 42 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: 5N5 Kirkwood NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,360 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- 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.