Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Flint, Michigan 48507
Saturday, May 6, 1989 13:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE ON AN INSTRUCTIONAL SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS. THE STUDENT ELECTED TO SELECT 'IDLE-SHUTOFF' AND CONDUCT AN EMERGENCY LANDING. DURING THE LANDING ROLL IN A CULTIVATED FIELD, THE NOSEWHEEL DUG INTO SOFT DIRT AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, HOWEVER THE PILOT REPORTED NO INJURIES. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NOTHING THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED NORMAL OPERATION. SURFACE TEMPERATURE FIVE MILES AWAY, AND THIRTY THREE MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT, WAS 48 DEGREES F AND THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY WAS CALCULATED AS 54% VISIBLE MOISTURE IN THE FORM OF CLOUDS, DESCRIBED AS 5,000 FEET SCATTERED AND 8,000 FEET OVERCAST, AS OBSERVED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURES AND DIRECTIVES AND HIS PREMATURE DECISION TO INITIATE AN EMERGENCY PROCEDURE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AND HIS SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE EMERGENCY LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/6/1989
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1320
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City FLINT
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48507
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1753 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 310
Weather Observation Facility ID FNT
Elevation of weather observation facility 782
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 8000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 14
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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) 651
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 6 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40194
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:40PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N25054
NTSB Number CHI89LA085
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 15280518
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 18 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 37
Airframe Hours 2146
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AMER. CHRISTIAN AVIATION INST.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1525 AIRPORT ROAD
Aircraft Owner City FLINT
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48054
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PTK
Departure City PONTIAC
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FNT
Destination City FLINT
Destination State MI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --