# NTSB ATL87FA209: Cessna 152, N4869B, Yanceyville, NC, July 13, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 13, 1987, 11:05 local (15:05 UTC)
- Place: Yanceyville, NC
- Coordinates: 36.399166, -79.339721 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3992&lon=-79.3397&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7307
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87FA209
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7307/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87FA209

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - excessive workload (task overload), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - open field

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15283684
- Airframe hours: 5900
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 45; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870713034409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870713034409A), Jul 13, 1987: Cessna 152, Yanceyville, NC, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Stalled while taking commercial photos of residences. Near vertical impact. Aircraft and pilots had low standards.

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.