Cessna 152 accident near Lehi, Utah, December 29, 1994
On December 29, 1994 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N24741, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lehi, Utah. It was a personal 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 ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE ABOVE THE TERRAIN. FACTORS INCLUDE THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY BECOMING LOST/DISORIENTED, HIS IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION TO ATTEMPT TO MANEUVER THROUGH UNFAMILIAR MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN TO HIS ORIGINAL DESTINATION, AND HIGH VEGETATION AT THE SITE OF THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 29, 1994 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Lehi, Utah
- 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
- N24741 · no longer on the register · serial 15280350
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FLY FROM SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH TO PROVO, UTAH, THE PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED AND ENTERED UNFAMILIAR MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. EVEN THOUGH FLIGHT IN THE AREA WAS RESTRICTED BY VARIABLE CEILINGS AND VISIBILITY, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE ON TO HIS ORIGINAL DESTINATION BY MANEUVERING AT LOW LEVEL. WHILE CROSSING A RIDGE, THE AIRCRAFT'S ELEVATOR IMPACTED THE TERRAIN, AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO FLY OUT OF THE AREA, BUT BECAUSE OF CONTROLLABILITY PROBLEMS, HE ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON THE BRUSH COVERED TERRAIN.
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: 71 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 37 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,600 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 22, 1994; 63 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: U42 Salt Lake City UT at 8:30 pm
- Destination: PVU Provo UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 34°F (1°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.