Cessna 152 accident near Stratford, Connecticut, January 7, 1989
On January 7, 1989 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N757KR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stratford, Connecticut (Sikorsky airport). It was a personal 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 LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 7, 1989 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Stratford, Connecticut · Sikorsky
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N757KR · no longer on the register · serial 15279805
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE FAILED FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AT 300 FEET SHORTLY AFTER THREE TOUCH GO AND LANDINGS. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING AND THE AIRPLANE HIT A FENCE, POLE AND SHRUBBERY. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT ACCELERATOR PUMP DISCHARGE TUBE WAS MISSING FROM THE CARBURETOR. THE BOTTOM SPARK PLUGS WERE SEVERELY FOULED AND THE MAGNETOS WERE NOT APPROVED FOR THE ENGINE.
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
- Flight time: 14 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 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: BDR Stratford CT at 2:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 4,677 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°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.