Cessna 152 accident near Windham, Connecticut, September 1, 1988
On September 1, 1988 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N94502, was substantially damaged in an accident near Windham, Connecticut (Windham airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- September 1, 1988 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Windham, Connecticut · Windham
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N94502 · no longer on the register · serial 85693
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT SAID SHE HEARD A POPPING SOUND DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL AND ALMOST INSTANTANEOUSLY THE DOOR CAME OPEN. SHE TRIED TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND WHEN THAT FAILED SHE ATTEMPTED TO ABORT. SHE RETARDED THE THROTTLE AND ATTEMPTED BRAKING BUT IT WAS NOT EFFECTIVE AND THE ACFT RAN OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT.EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE BY THE OPERATOR REVEALED THAT THE PILOT'S SEAT BELT BANGING AGAINST THE OUTSIDE OF THE PILOT'S DOOR WAS THE POPPING SOUND THAT THE PLT HEARD. EXAMINATION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN THE PILOT'S REPORT OF BRAKE DEFICIENCY.
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: 98 hours in all; 98 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 13 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,368 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 16, 1988; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: King Service Aviation,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: IAN E Taunton MA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 5B0 Windham CT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 4,360 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.