Cessna 152 accident near Wellsville, Utah, July 26, 1995
On July 26, 1995 at about 3:00 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N588BR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wellsville, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE WITH FLYING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 1995 · about 3:00 am local time · cases in 1995
- Place
- Wellsville, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N588BR · registry record · serial 15281860
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN WHILE THE PILOT WAS MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE NEAR MOUNTAINS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE NOTICED HIS ALTITUDE WAS DROPPING SO HE INCREASED POWER TO FULL AND INCREASED HIS CLIMB RATE. HE SAID THE NEXT THING HE HEARD WAS THE STALL WARNING HORN. HE SAID THE AIRCRAFT AGAIN BEGAN TO DROP AND THE LEFT WING WENT DOWN SUDDENLY. HE NOTED THE AIRSPEED AT THAT MOMENT, JUST BEFORE IMPACT, WAS APPROXIMATELY 40 KIAS. THE PILOT LATER REPORTED THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HE WAS MORE FAMILIAR WITH MOUNTAIN FLYING AND DENSITY ALTITUDE.
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: 208 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 3 in the last 30 days; 162 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,345 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 10, 1995; 36 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: LGU Logan UT at 2:35 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N588BR the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N588BR on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 152 1,636 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C 84 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Logan-Cache Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Utah 1,440 since 1982 · 263 in the last ten years
- Utah 8,354 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N588BR 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA95LA163.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.