Cessna 152 accident near Tamiami, Florida, May 4, 2018
On May 4, 2018 at about 2:41 am local time, a 1981 Cessna 152, registered N6198Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Tamiami, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The non-instrument-rated pilot’s loss of control during an encounter with instrument meteorological conditions at night. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to depart on the flight without obtaining approval to fly at night in accordance with company policy.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 2018 · about 2:41 am local time
- Place
- Tamiami, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 NO SERIES, built 1981 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N6198Q · no longer on the register · serial 15285190
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-instrumented-rated pilot and pilot-rated passenger, who also did not hold an instrument rating, departed on a local flight and were expected to return before dark; however, they flew to another airport, where they refueled and departed on the return flight in night conditions. While en route, the airplane encountered instrument meteorological conditions and the pilot lost control of the airplane, which subsequently impacted terrain. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The operator reported that company policy stated that pilots were prohibited from flying at night without explicit permission from the chief or assistant chief pilot; the accident pilots did not obtain such approval. Whether the pilot obtained weather information before departing on the flight was not determined. Although the restricted visibility conditions were conducive to the development of spatial disorientation, there was insufficient evidence to determine whether it played a role in the sequence of events. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with a loss of control in instrument meteorological conditions.
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
What happened, in order
- VFR encounter with IMC during enroute (cruise)
- Loss of control in flight during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Clouds › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 195 hours in all; 195 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 18, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 75 hours in all; 75 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 10, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 19,984.2 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 23, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 1,669 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 SERIES (piston); 17,132 hours total
- Operator: Dean International Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: LAL Lakeland FL
- Destination: TMB Miami FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from KTMB, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.