Cessna 152 accident near Cottage Grove, Oregon, September 12, 1988
On September 12, 1988 at about 1:20 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N68142, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cottage Grove, Oregon (Cottage Grove State 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
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
- September 12, 1988 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Cottage Grove, Oregon · Cottage Grove State · map
- 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
- N68142 · no longer on the register · serial 15282145
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED AFTER TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 33, DURING TURN FROM UPWIND TO CROSSWIND, WHILE DOING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. AFTER CHECKING THE FUEL SELECTOR AND APPLYING CARBURETOR HEAT, THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT MADE A RIGHT TURN BACK TO THE RUNWAY. THE WIND WAS FROM 340 DEGREES AT 25 KNOTS GUSTING TO 30 KNOTS. FULL FLAPS WERE USED. AN OVERSHOOT OCCURRED WITH THE LANDING TOUCHDOWN ACCOMPLISHED 1/4 MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. A TREE WAS STRUCK PRIOR TO LANDING ROLL. DURING LANDING ROLL THE NOSE GEAR STRUCK A SHORT WALL AND THEN A STACK OF BRICKS. EXAM OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY SYSTEM MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.
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: 830 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 66 in the last 30 days; 780 as pilot in command; 390 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,500 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 30, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 61S Cottage Grove OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.