Cessna 152 II accident near Coatesville, Pennsylvania, August 19, 1988
On August 19, 1988 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152 II, registered N49142, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coatesville, Pennsylvania. 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
- August 19, 1988 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Coatesville, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 II · all 152 IIs on the register
- Registration
- N49142 · registry record · serial 15281161
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT WAS RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT FOLLOWING A 1 HR LOCAL FLIGHT. HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND LOST POWER. THE PLT SELECTED A FIELD FOR A FORCED LANDING AND APPROACHED IT FROM WEST TO EAST. THE PLANE STRUCK A ROAD SHORT OF THE FIELD AND THE NOSE GEAR WAS SHEARED OFF. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED INTO A CORN FIELD AND CAME TO REST, NOSE DOWN, FACING WEST. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION BY AN FAA INSPECTOR REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY, AND THE RIGHT TANK HAD 3/4 OF A GALLON IN IT. A FUEL SAMPLE SHOWED NO CONTAMINATION. THE PILOT SAID HE ESTIMATED THAT BOTH TANKS WERE HALF FULL WHEN HE TOOK OFF. IN HIS REPORT, THE PILOT REPORTED 3 GALLONS ON BOARD AT TAKEOFF.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 34 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,687 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 21, 1988; 76 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Chester CO. Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 40N Chester PA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: 40N
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.