Cessna 152 accident near Medford, Oregon, December 16, 1988
On December 16, 1988 at about 3:20 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N67638, was substantially damaged in an accident near Medford, Oregon (Medford Jackson Airport). It was a personal 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
- December 16, 1988 · about 3:20 am local time
- Place
- Medford, Oregon · Medford Jackson Airport · 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
- N67638 · registry record · serial 15281954
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED THE AIRPORT WITHOUT OBTAINING FUEL. APPROXIMATELY 15 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS ON BOARD WHICH WOULD MAKE THE FUEL TANKS ABOUT ONE-HALF FULL. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN AIRBORNE FOR OVER 2 HOURS AND 10 MINUTES. DARK VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. THE PILOT CHOSE AN UNLIT AREA TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK LUMBER IN A LUMBER YARD DURING THE LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT THEN NOSED OVER. POST ACC INVEST SHOWED NO FUEL IN THE ACFT AND NO EVIDENCE OF SPILLAGE OR LEAKAGE.
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: 73 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 38 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 3, 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: ONP Newport OR
- Destination: MFR Medford OR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.