Cessna 152 accident near Gig Harbor, Washington, March 8, 1991
On March 8, 1991 at about 7:58 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5095P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gig Harbor, Washington (Tacoma Narrows 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON THE GROUND. FACTORS INCLUDE WIND GUSTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 1991 · about 7:58 pm local time
- Place
- Gig Harbor, Washington · Tacoma Narrows · 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
- N5095P · registry record · serial 15284875
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA 152 SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGED WHEN THE STUDENT PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE MADE A NORMAL LANDING AND THE RIGHT WING LIFTED DUE TO A GUST. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, WHERE THE LEFT WING STRUCK A 3000 FOOT MARKER AND THE AIRCRAFT SPUN AROUND TO THE LEFT.
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: 25 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 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: OLM Olympia WA at 7:00 pm
- Runway 17, 5,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.