Cessna 152 accident near Lumberton, New Jersey, October 1, 1986
On October 1, 1986 at about 3:04 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N48925, was destroyed in an accident near Lumberton, New Jersey (Flying "W" airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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 1, 1986 · about 3:04 pm local time
- Place
- Lumberton, New Jersey · Flying "W"
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N48925 · no longer on the register · serial 152181052
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A TAKE OFF, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. AFTER REACHING AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 300 FT AGL, IT WENT INTO A STEEP DSCNT & CRASHED IN ABOUT A 70 DEG NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS EVIDENT. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT WAS MAKING A TOUCH-&-GO LANDING WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. DURING THE PREVIOUS 90 DAYS, THE PLT HAD FLOWN ONLY ONCE WHEN HE MADE 3 TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS ON A .5 HR FLT ON 9/20/86.
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
- Flight time: 309 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,170 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 18, 1986; 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
- Departed from: N14 at 3:15 pm
- Destination: N14
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 3,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.