Cessna 152 accident near Auburn, Washington, November 14, 1991
On November 14, 1991 at about 8:55 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N68267, was destroyed in an accident near Auburn, Washington (Auburn Municipal airport). It was a ferry 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 LOSS OF CONTROL ON TAKEOFF BY THE PILOT DUE TO THE IMPROPER FLAP SETTING, THE PREMATURE LIFTOFF AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN PROPER CLIMB AIRSPEED AFTER TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 14, 1991 · about 8:55 pm local time
- Place
- Auburn, Washington · Auburn Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N68267 · no longer on the register · serial 15282219
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF, AND THE ACFT LIFTED OFF AT A SLOW AIRSPEED AND STALLED ABOUT 100 FEET AGL. EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE FLAPS WERE IMPROPERLY SET AT 20 DEGREES.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 590 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 154 in the last 90 days; 51 in the last 30 days; 529 as pilot in command; 221 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
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: S50 Auburn WA at 8:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,800 ft; scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from SEA, 7 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.