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Cessna 152 accident at Miami, FL, 23 Apr 1989 (N704XE)

Miami, FL, US

On April 23, 1989, a Cessna 152 (registration N704XE) operated by Adf Airways, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Miami, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: FAILURE OF A ROCKER SHAFT BOSS ON THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER. A RELATED FACTOR WAS THE ROUGH TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 9 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

FAILURE OF A ROCKER SHAFT BOSS ON THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER. A RELATED FACTOR WAS THE ROUGH TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS CRUISING ALONG THE COASTLINE AT ABOUT 600 FT AGL, WHEN THE ENG BEGAN TO LOSE POWER & RUN ROUGH. A FORCED LDG WAS PERFORMED WHEN THE PLT REALIZED THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT POWER AVAIL TO SUSTAIN FLT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN ON ROUGH TERRAIN & NOSED OVER. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE ROCKER SHAFT BOSS ON THE #3 CYLINDER HAD FAILED.

Engine failure

Related events

Same aircraft family

Same operator

All Cessna 152 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 23 Apr 1989 Cessna 152 accident near Miami, FL?

THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS CRUISING ALONG THE COASTLINE AT ABOUT 600 FT AGL, WHEN THE ENG BEGAN TO LOSE POWER & RUN ROUGH. A FORCED LDG WAS PERFORMED WHEN THE PLT REALIZED THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT POWER AVAIL TO SUSTAIN FLT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN ON ROUGH TERRAIN & NOSED OVER. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 23 Apr 1989 involved a Cessna 152, registration N704XE, operated by Adf Airways, Inc., at Miami, FL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

FAILURE OF A ROCKER SHAFT BOSS ON THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER. A RELATED FACTOR WAS THE ROUGH TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X28156. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.