Cessna 152 accident near Coatsville, Pennsylvania, April 1, 1992
On April 1, 1992 at about 4:58 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N49436, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coatsville, Pennsylvania (Chester County airport). 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 FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO COMPENSATE FOR ADVERSE WINDS DURING LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRSPEED AND SUBSEQUENT STALL AND LOSS OF CONTROL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE STUDENT PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 1992 · about 4:58 pm local time
- Place
- Coatsville, Pennsylvania · Chester County · map
- 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
- N49436 · no longer on the register · serial 15281265
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT DID NOT COMPENSATE PROPERLY FOR ADVERSE WINDS IN THE LANDING PATTERN. WHEN TURNING FINAL APPROACH, HE OVERSHOT THE RUNWAY AND HAD DIFFICULTY ALIGNING WITH THE RUNWAY. DURING THE FLARE, THE AIRPLANE BALLOONED, THE AIRSPEED DROPPED TO 45 KNOTS, THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND STRUCK THE RUNWAY.
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: 40 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 9 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,607 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 27, 1992; 8 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: W54 Westminister MD at 4:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 5,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots, gusting 17
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.