# Accident 20170701008779A: Cessna 152, Homestead, FL, July 1, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 1, 2017, 21:18 local time
- Place: Homestead, FL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: D4RS
- Location: 25.4958° N, 80.7475° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.4958&lon=-80.7475&mi=10
- Aircraft: N49453, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49453-2017-11-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 152 (registry code 2071835, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 145 total, 145 in this make and model, 68 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17FA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA231) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170701008779A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON JULY 1ST AIRMAN MARK UKAERE FLEW WITH HIS INSTRUCTOR AND PRACTICED HOLDING AND APPROACHES AT X51 AND TMB.  AFTER LANDING, THE INSTRUCTOR ^(JOB WACHIRA)^ LEFT MARK AT THE PLANE AND SUBSEQUENTLY LEFT THE AIRPORT FOR THE DAY.  MARK HAD THE PLANE BOOKED ALL DAY AND DECIDED TO GO FLY AGAIN TO PRACTICE HIS INSTRUMENT TRAINING.  HE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE SOMEONE FLY WITH HIM TO NO AVAIL.  MARK FLEW THE PLANE ON A TRAINING FLIGHT ALONE, PRACTICING HOLDING AND APPROACHES.  HE LANDED AT APPROXIMATELY 2015 UTC , WAS REFUELED AT 2029 AND DEPARTED 2052 UTC TO THE SOUTHWEST.  RADAR DATA SHOWS THE AIRCRAFT IN HOLDING AT THE IAF "HOMLU" WEST OF X51.  THE LAST RADAR TARGET WAS AT 2118 UTC AT AN ALTITUDE OF 950'.

DURING THE INVESTIGATION, NTSB CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DECEASED GIRLFRIEND REVEALED THAT THE AIRMAN WAS ON THE CELL PHONE VIDEO CHATTING FROM 2005 UTC UP TO 2112 UTC (JUST BEFORE IMPACT).

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA17FA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA231), Jul 2, 2017: Cessna 152 (N49453), Homestead, FL, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of control due to spatial disorientation while maneuvering in night conditions over an area devoid of ground reference lights.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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