# NTSB ATL03LA050: Cessna 152, N67524, Greenwood, SC, March 1, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 1, 2003, 00:56 local (05:56 UTC) - Place: Greenwood, SC - Coordinates: 34.248611, -82.158889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2486&lon=-82.1589&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Columbia FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56565 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL03LA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56565/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA050 ## Probable cause The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions and loss of aircraft control, which resulted in an in-flight collision with the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - low ceiling (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis According to the pilot, during cruise flight at 2000 feet, the airplane entered clouds and the pilot began to descend to 1200 feet. The pilot requested assistance from air traffic, and was cleared to initiate a 180-degree turn. During the 180-degree turn the pilot became disoriented and collided with the ground. No mechanical or flight control malfunctions were reported by the non-instrument rated pilot. ## Factual narrative On March 1, 2003, at 0056 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N67524, registered to Aiken Air Service and operated by a private pilot, collided with the ground during a 180-degree turn near Greenwood County Airport, Greenwood, South Carolina. The personal flight was operated under the provision of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the private pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated from Donaldson Center Airport, Greenville, South Carolina, on March 1, 2003 at 2350. According to the pilot, he was in cruise flight at 2000 feet, when he contacted Atlanta Center for flight following. Approximately 10 minutes after contacting Atlanta Center, the weather began to deteriorate. The pilot reported he entered clouds and was descending to 1200 feet were he believed it was clear. The pilot was still in the clouds and requested assistance from Atlanta Center. Atlanta Center cleared the pilot to make a 180-degree turn. The pilot reported the 180-degree turn, he became disoriented and collided with the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed, the airplane came to rest in a stand of trees. The main fuselage and cabin area were buckled. Both wings of the airplane buckled back towards the vertical and horizontal stabilizers. No mechanical or flight control malfunctions were reported by the pilot prior to the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N67524](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N67524-2007-01-23), registration cancelled 2007-01-23, S/N 15285301, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15285301 - Airframe hours: 6665 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Curtis Merriweiter - Registered owner: Aikin Air Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 2, 2003, 30 hours before - Departed: 7A1, GREENVILLE, SC - Destination: AIK, AIKEN, SC - Airport: GRD, Greenwood County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 89 total, 21 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 90° at 3 knots - Visibility: 2.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: GRD, 5 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030301003949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030301003949A), Mar 1, 2003: Cessna 152, Greenwood, SC, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot was returning to aiken, SC from donaldson airport in greenville, SC. It was late at night with marginal weather conditions. Pilot, upon entering… ## Other investigations on N67524 (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 ATL94LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA129), Jul 3, 1994: Cessna 152 (N67524), Chamblee, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE RUDDER, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.