Lee Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Edgewater, Maryland 21037
Sunday, June 15, 1997 17:05 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to flying club records, the purpose of the flight was to complete an initial aircraft check for the pilot in the Cessna 152. The check was part of new member in-processing. The pilot was re-joining the flying club after a 9 year absence. The pilot had performed 3 previous takeoffs and landings prior to the accident takeoff. One witness described all four takeoffs as 'high performance.' Several witnesses described the accident takeoff in written statements. When the airplane reached an altitude of approximately 100 to 150 feet, they stated the airplane pitched up to an 'extremely' nose high attitude. Four witnesses described the pitch angle as '...well over 45 degrees...', '...45 to 60 degrees...', '...60 to 70 degrees up...', and '...60 degrees at least...'. Two witnesses described the pitch angle of the airplane as if it flew, left to right, across a clock face. Each said the nose was up at the '...one o'clock position.' Two witnesses said the airplane was '...just hanging on the prop.' Each pilot was airline transport rated with a combined flight experience of approximately 8,000 hours. Examination of the airplane did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunction..

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's excessive maneuver at a low altitude, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the pilot, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/15/1997
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1705
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City EDGEWATER
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 21037
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LEE AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ANP
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 30
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1655 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 250
Weather Observation Facility ID ADW
Elevation of weather observation facility 281
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1920
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 15 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1723
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:21PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N93908
NTSB Number NYC97FA118
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 152
Aircraft Serial Number 15285570
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 51
Airframe Hours 6449
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FORT MEADE FLYING CLUB
Aircraft Owner Street Address P. O. BOX 290 AIRFIELD ROAD
Aircraft Owner City FT. MEADE
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 20755
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code ANP
Departure City
Departure State MD
Departure Country
Departure Time 1610
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length 2505
Runway Width 48
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --