Phelps Collins Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Alpena, Michigan 49707
Wednesday, March 7, 1990 15:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL; THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND IMPACTED A PLOWED RIDGE OF SNOW AND ICE. THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 32.2 HOURS (ALL IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT, INCLUDING 1.4 HOURS OF SOLO FLIGHT TIME).

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN POSITIVE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. THE STUDENT PILOT'S LACK OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/7/1990
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1515
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ALPENA
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49707
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PHELPS COLLINS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID APN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 689
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1450 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID APN
Elevation of weather observation facility 689
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
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 None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 259
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 7 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41108
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N48690
NTSB Number CHI90LA095
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 152
Aircraft Serial Number 15280929
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jan 25 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 3675
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PHELPS COLLINS AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address AIRPORT ROAD
Aircraft Owner City ALPENA
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address AIRPORT ROAD
Operator City ALPENA
Operator State MI
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code APN
Departure City ALPENA
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1515
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code APN
Destination City ALPENA
Destination State MI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 19
Runway Length 9001
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --