# NTSB BFO89FA020: Cessna 152, N24236, Townsend, DE, March 6, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 6, 1989, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Townsend, DE
- Coordinates: 39.390995, -75.689422 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3910&lon=-75.6894&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 10, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11453
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO89FA020
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11453/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89FA020

## Probable cause

LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL FOR UNKNOWN REASONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, unknown
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - qualification, pilot in command
  - physical impairment, pilot in command
  - inadequate training, pilot in command
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - weather condition - fog
  - weather condition - rain
  - weather condition - icing conditions
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command
  - aircraft control - not maintained
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS OWNED & PILOTED BY A NON-CERTIFICATED PLT WITH TERMINAL CANCER, WHO WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR AN FAA MED CERT. WORKERS SAW THE ACFT TAKEOFF AT APRX 1030 EST. ABOUT 1 HR LATER, A NEARBY RESIDENT HEARD WHAT SHE BELIEVED WAS AN ENG 'MISSING' & WENT 'OUTSIDE,' BUT DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. SHE WENT BACK 'INSIDE' & HEARD A LOUD NOISE (BELIEVED TO BE THE THE ACFT CRASHING). SHE WENT 'OUTSIDE' AGAIN, BUT STILL DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. SOON THEREAFTER, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED WHERE IT HAD CRASHED BESIDE THE APCH END OF RWY 36 AT THE PLT'S PVT STRIP. THERE WAS EVIDENCE IT HAD CRASHED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN, WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE. THE ACFT WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED DRG IMPACT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS FOUND. ABOUT 20 MI SE AT DOVER AFB, THE WX WAS IN PART: 500' SCATTERED, 900' BROKEN, VIS 2 MI WITH FOG & RAIN. FREEZING RAIN & SNW BGN FALLING SHORTLY AFTER THE ACDNT. THE PLT'S BROTHER BELIEVED THE ACFT ICED UP. THE OWNER/PLT WAS SUFFERING FM THE END STAGE OF LARYNX CANCER WITH COMPLICATIONS OF ANEMIA & HEMOPTYSIS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N24236](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24236-2013-08-07), registration cancelled 2013-08-07, S/N 15280166, built 1977 (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: 80166
- Airframe hours: 3781
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ervin S. Miller
- Registered owner: Ervin S Miller
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1989, 9 hours before
- Airport: Pvt Strip, runway 36, 1,250 × 50 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; seat: left; toxicology performed

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: 40° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 900 ft broken
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AFB, 20 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 19890306003109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890306003109A), Mar 6, 1989: Cessna 152, Townsend, DE, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Impacted vertical near strip. Non licensed pilot had terminal cancer.

## Other investigations on N24236 (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 CHI82IA364](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82IA364), Sep 23, 1982: Cessna 152 (N24236), Pontiac, MI, incident, minor damage

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.

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