Cessna 152 accident near Cascade Locks, Oregon, August 25, 1988
On August 25, 1988 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N94649, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cascade Locks, Oregon (Stevenson State 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1988 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Cascade Locks, Oregon · Stevenson State · 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
- N94649 · no longer on the register · serial 15285750
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING CRUISE WHILE ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY TRAINING FLIGHT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SURGE. HE CALLED ATC AND WAS DIRECTED TO THE NEAREST AVAILABLE AIRPORT. THE STUDENT PILOT LANDED LONG AND FAST AND DEPARTED THEEND OF THE RUNWAY. AFTER GOING DOWN AN EMBANKMENT THE NOSEWHEEL DUG INTO SOFT TERRAIN AND THE AIRCRAFT BECAME INVERTED. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED SPARK PLUGS THAT EXHIBITED SIGNS OF A VERY LEAN MIXTURE. NO OTHER MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE FOUND.
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: 50 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 12 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,515 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 18, 1988; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aurora Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 3S2 Aurora OR at 5:40 pm
- Destination: YAK Yakima WA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 6, 1,800 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.