Cessna 152C accident near Port Matilda, Pennsylvania, February 22, 1987
On February 22, 1987 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152C, registered N757BQ, was destroyed in an accident near Port Matilda, Pennsylvania. 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
- February 22, 1987 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Port Matilda, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152C · all 152Cs on the register
- Registration
- N757BQ · no longer on the register · serial 15279613
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE UNIVERSITY STUDENT DEPARTED THE UNIVERSITY AIR PARK AIRPORT IN STATE COLLEGE, PA ON A LOCAL FLIGHT IN VFR WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED INTO THE GROUND IN AN APPROXIMATE 70 DEGREE DIVE ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT WAS ENGAGED IN LOW FLIGHT OVER HIS PARENTS RESIDENCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING AN 'AIR DROP'. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DID NOT REVEAL ANY PRE-IMPACT FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS OF THE AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE, FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS OR POWERPLANT.
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: 108 hours in all; 1 in the last 30 days; 71 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,880 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 30, 1986; 477 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Nittany Aero Club,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: UNV State College PA at 10:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:40 pm from IPT, 10 miles away
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.