Ryan Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tucson, Arizona 85735
Friday, February 8, 2013 9:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On February 8, 2013, about 0930 mountain standard time, after it was established on a right downwind leg for runway 6R, radio and visual contact with a Cessna 152, N89059, was lost by the air traffic control tower (ATCT) controller at Ryan Field (RYN) Tucson, Arizona. Shortly thereafter, the controller noticed a dust cloud on the surface about 1 1/2 miles southwest of the airport. The dust cloud was a result of the airplane's impact with terrain. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the private pilot received fatal injuries. The pilot had rented the airplane from Arizona Aero-Tech (AAT), located at Tucson International Airport (TUS) Tucson, with the stated intent of practicing landings and takeoffs at RYN. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The accident site was about 150 feet south of Ajo Highway, which passed just south of RYN. Multiple persons riding on the highway witnessed the airplane's final descent and resulting dust cloud from the impact; their view of the impact itself was occluded by vegetation. Pima County Sheriff Office (PCSO) was notified at 0937, and the first PCSO officer arrived on scene about 0940. The main wreckage path was about 200 feet long, and oriented along a magnetic heading of about 240 degrees. The airplane came to rest inverted, with the nose oriented about 090 degrees magnetic. The underside of the nose was crushed. The engine remained attached to its mount, which remained attached to the fuselage. The propeller was separated from the engine. The nose landing gear strut remained attached, but was crushed against the firewall and lower fuselage. The aft fuselage was deflected about 90 degrees airplane left, and almost fully fracture-separated from the cabin. The empennage was essentially intact, and remained attached to the aft fuselage. The right wing was fracture-separated at its aft fuselage attach point, and the left wing remained attached to the fuselage. Both wings exhibited some leading edge crush damage. There was no post-impact fire. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) information, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued in December 2011. According to the pilot's flight logbook, he had accumulated a total flight experience of about 302 hours. His most recent flight review was completed on June 29, 2012. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) information indicated that the airplane was manufactured in 1988, and was equipped with a Lycoming O-235 series engine. Maintenance record information indicated that the airframe and engine had a total time in service of about 8,037 hours. The 0754 RYN automated weather observation, which was the observation closest in time to the accident, included winds from 110 degrees at 5 knots; visibility 10 miles; clear skies; temperature 8 degrees C; dew point minus 1 degrees C; and an altimeter setting of 29.92 inches of mercury. When the controller cleared the flight for its first touch-and-go, he advised the pilot "winds calm."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/8/2013
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Tucson
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85735
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 320724N
Event Location Longitude 1111153W
Event Location Airport Ryan Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RYN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2417
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 754 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 40
Weather Observation Facility ID RYN
Elevation of weather observation facility 2417
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.92
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source Local Authorities
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 15 2013 5:15PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N89059
NTSB Number WPR13FA118
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15282614
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Feb 5 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 100
Airframe Hours 8037
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AMALONG TIMOTHY M
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City TUCSON
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85706-6909
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Arizona Aero-Tech
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Tucson
Operator State AZ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 85706
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code TUS
Departure City Tucson
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code RYN
Destination City Tucson
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 15 2013 5:15PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --