Cessna 152 accident near Old Bridge, New Jersey, February 14, 1987
On February 14, 1987 at about 5:25 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N25498, was substantially damaged in an accident near Old Bridge, New Jersey (Old Bridge airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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 14, 1987 · about 5:25 pm local time
- Place
- Old Bridge, New Jersey · Old Bridge
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N25498 · no longer on the register · serial 15280696
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA 152 TOOK OFF AND AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE STUDENT PILOT WHO HAD MADE THE TAKEOFF TURNED CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT OVER TO THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, WHO MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A DRAG STRIP PARKING LOT WHICH WAS COVERED WITH SNOW AND ICE. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED INTO A CHAIN LINK FENCE. THE STUDENT PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES WHILE THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE MAIN FUEL STRAINER WAS DRAINED AND IT WAS NOTED THE FUEL WAS APPROXIMATELY 50% WATER. THE FUEL IN THE UNDERGROUND TANK THAT WAS USED TO FUEL THE AIRCRAFT WAS CHECKED AND IT WAS NOTED THAT THE FUEL OUT OF THE PUMPS WAS APPROXIMATELY 10% WATER. IN ADDITION THE FUEL FILTERS WERE DIRTY AND CONTAINED ICE CRYSTALS. THE SOURCE OF THE WATER INTO THE UNDERGROUND FUEL TANKS WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,057 hours in all; 1,057 in this make and model; 113 in the last 90 days; 903 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,634 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 15, 1986; 91 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: 3N6 Old Bridge NJ at 5:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,600 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.