- Date
- July 13, 1987, 11:05 local (15:05 UTC)
- Place
- Yanceyville, NC
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4869BCessna 152
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 24, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870713034409A
- Case key
- 7307
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt was engaged in low alt commercial photography. Witnesses had observed the acft operating at a very low altitude in the area for the past two or three days. The witness closest to the crash site related that the acft would make a straight pass near a homesite, add power, start a climbing turn to reverse direction and when established straight and level again, decrease power. On the last pass prior to the accident, the acft entered a climbing turn to the left and the nose was observed to drop and the acft disappeared behind a tree line which was between two open fields. The wreckage was found by another witness about 20 mins later. The photo operation was conducted solo with the pilot attempting to fly the acft from the right seat while also doing aerial photography with a 35 mm camera, all at a low altitude.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4869B
- Reported as
- Cessna 152
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15283684
- Airframe hours
- 5,900
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 118 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- State Aerial Farm Stat. Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 2, 1987 · 229 hours before
- Departed
- BUY · Burlington, NC
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,089 total · 850 in this make and model · 1,015 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GSO, 30 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.