# NTSB BFO89FA027: Cessna 152, N93748, West Chicago, IL, April 15, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 15, 1989, 08:51 local (12:51 UTC)
- Place: West Chicago, IL
- Coordinates: 41.879795, -88.220932 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8798&lon=-88.2209&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 5, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11456
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO89FA027
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11456/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89FA027

## Probable cause

IMPROPER INSTRUCTION BY THE STUDENT'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REGARDING THE EXECUTION OF S-TURNS ON FINAL APPROACH TO INCREASE SPACING AND THE RETRACTION OF FLAPS FULLY WHEN EXECUTING A GO-AROUND AND THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED WHILE MAKING STEEP S-TURNS ON FINAL APPROACH. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE ATC CONTROL TOWER SERVICE AND TRAFFIC SEPARATION, IMPROPER SUPERVISION IN THE TOWER, AND INEXPERIENCE OF THE STUDENT PILOT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - control tower service - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor)
  - visual separation - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor)
  - supervision - improper, atc personnel(supervisor) (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - raising of flaps - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - improper training, flight instructor(on ground) (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach

## Analysis

STUDENT IN CESSNA 152 (N93748) WAS SEQUENCED TO LND BHND N97M AS BEECH 90 (N20) WAS AWAITING TKOF. AS N97M WAS LNDG, N20 WAS CLRD ON RWY TO HOLD & THE STUDENT WAS CLRD TO LND. 39 SEC LTR, N20 WAS CLRD FOR TKOF. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, N93748STALLED AND CRASHED APRX 580' SHORT OF THE RWY. WITNESSES SAID THE STUDENT FLEW FM A CLOSE BASE TO A SHORT FINAL APCH, THEN MADE 2 OR 3 STEEP S-TURNS AT LOW SPEED, AS IF TO GET MORE SEPN BHND N20. TOWER SUPVSR (CIC) OBSERVED INADQT SEPN BUT TOOK NO ACTION TO CORRECT IT. WITNESSES SAID N20 WAS HOLDING ON THE RWY WHEN THE STUDENT BEGAN S-TURNING. BFR TKOF, THE PLT OF N93748 TOLD GND CTL SHE WAS A STUDENT. THIS INFO WAS NOT PASSED TO LCL CTLRS. LCL CTLR WAS IN TRNG. NEITHER HE NOR HIS INSTRUCTOR KNEW THE PLT OF N93748 WAS A STUDENT. AIM RCMDD STUDENT ID ON INITIAL CALL TO RDO FAC. BUT, ATC HNDBK DIDN'T REQUIRE INFO TO BE FWDD. FLAPS WERE FND AT 10 DEG; STUDENT WAS TRND TO USE FULL FLAPS AND USE S-TURNS ON FINAL FOR SPACING, AND TO RAISE FLAPS FULL UP FOR GO-ARND; POH RCMDD 20 DEG OF FLAPS UNTIL SAFE SPEED WAS OBTAINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N93748](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93748-1990-01-22), registration cancelled 1990-01-22, S/N 15285546 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15285546
- Airframe hours: 3152
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Planemaster Inc.
- Registered owner: Robert L. Stevenson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 12, 1989, 10 hours before
- Departed: DPA
- Airport: DPA, Dupage, runway 28, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 33 total, 32 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DPA

## 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 19890415007999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890415007999A), Apr 15, 1989: Cessna 152, Chicago/West Ch, IL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Student stalled on final s turning. Due traffic. CFI improper training. ATC improper separation. Failed keep speed.

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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