Cessna 152-II accident near Enfield, New York, September 6, 1994
On September 6, 1994 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Cessna 152-II, registered N80235, was substantially damaged in an accident near Enfield, New York (Neno airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot-in-command's attempt to take off under conditions beyond the performance capabilities of the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 1994 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Enfield, New York · Neno · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152-II · all 152-IIs on the register
- Registration
- N80235 · registry record · serial 15285358
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) AND THE STUDENT PILOT WERE ON A TRAINING FLIGHT AND LANDED AT A PRIVATE SOD STRIP. UPON LANDING ON RUNWAY 36, THE CFI TAXIED THE AIRPLANE TO THE NORTH END OF THE RUNWAY. THE CFI THEN ATTEMPTED TO DEMONSTRATE A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF TO THE STUDENT PILOT ON RUNWAY 18, A 2,150 FOOT LONG, SOD RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE ROTATED ABOUT 300 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK 60 FOOT HIGH TREES, 10 FEET FROM THEIR TOPS, AT THE SOUTH END OF THE RUNWAY. REPORTED SURFACE WINDS AT AN AIRPORT 7 MILES EAST OF THE SOD STRIP, WERE FROM 340 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK, WITH THE FLAPS SET TO 10 DEGREES, A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 1,466 FEET WAS REQUIRED FOR THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AND A DISTANCE OF 2,497 FEET WAS REQUIRED TO CLEAR A 50 FOOT OBSTACLE.
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: 697 hours in all; 399 in this make and model; 84 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 512 as pilot in command; 162 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,618 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 1994; 75 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: ITH Ithaca NY at 7:45 pm
- Destination: ITH NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,150 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from ITH, 7 miles away
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.