Cessna 152 accident near West Milford, New Jersey, May 8, 1990
On May 8, 1990 at about 7:10 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N6202Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Milford, New Jersey (Greenwood Lakes airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI). RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CFI'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE AS AN INSTRUCTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 1990 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- West Milford, New Jersey · Greenwood Lakes
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N6202Q · no longer on the register · serial 15285192
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) & STUDENT WERE PERFORMING MAX PERFORMANCE TAKEOFFS. JUST AFTER LIFTOFF, THE CFI DECIDED THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT CLEAR THE TREES AT THE AIRPORT BOUNDARY. HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND LANDED BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY WITH ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE RUNWAY REMAINING. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED OFF THE END AND INTO A PILE OF ROCKS. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES WITH THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE CFI HAD ONLY 32 HOURS AS AN INSTRUCTOR.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 380 hours in all; 156 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days; 341 as pilot in command; 32 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
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
- Operator: Kenneth Forester, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: MGJ at 6:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 2,300 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.