Cessna 152 accident near Greenville, New York, April 21, 1996
On April 21, 1996 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N89414, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greenville, New York (Lewis Landing airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to gain adequate airspeed due to inadequate planning in which he conducted a downwind takeoff, resulting in a stall mush, and collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 21, 1996 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Greenville, New York · Lewis Landing · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N89414 · no longer on the register · serial 15282737
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed on turf runway 7, which was surrounded by trees. He reported the winds as variable to a light tailwind. After getting airborne, the airplane encountered turbulence, would not climb, and eventually struck trees beyond the departure end of the runway. There was no report of an engine problem. The FAA reported that the prevailing winds in the area were from 260 degrees at 10 knots, with gusts to 20 knots. The pilot had received his private pilot certificate three weeks prior to the accident, and had a total time of 102 hours.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 102 hours in all; 81 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,410 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 11, 1996; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NK79 at 8:30 pm
- Destination: BLM Farmingdale NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 2,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from SWF, 36 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.