# NTSB CHI84FA037: Cessna 152 II, N5528L, Decatur, MI, November 6, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 6, 1983, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Decatur, MI
- Coordinates: 42.200725, -86.159614 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2007&lon=-86.1596&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12375
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84FA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12375/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84FA037

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - spiral - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT IMPACTED TREES AND THE GROUND DURING A NIGHT X-COUNTRY IN DETEROTIATED WEATHER ABOUT 3/4 OF A MI SSW OF KEELER,MI, VOR. WITNESSES HEARD THE ACFT CIRCLING AT LOW ALT BUT DID SEE THE ACFT DUE TO CLOUDS, DRIZZLE AND FOG. THE SOUND OF THE ENG WAS CONTINUOUS UNTIL CRACKING TREES AND AN EXPLOSION WERE HEARD. THE PLTS LOG SHOWED HE HAD NO NIGHT FLYING EXPERIENCE OR INST FLIGHT TIME AND ONLY 4.3 HOURS OF INST HOOD TIME LOGED IN NOV, 1980. THE PLT HAD RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING BUT HAD NOT FILED A FLT PLAN OR MADE ANY RADIO CALLS WHILE ENROUTE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5528L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5528L-2013-08-19), registration cancelled 2013-08-19, S/N 15284339, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 II
- 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: 152-84339
- Airframe hours: 156
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2 118 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Henry Tuinstra
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, June 7, 1983, 23 hours before
- Departed: UGN, WAUKEGAN, IL
- Destination: 41C, WAYLAND, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 239 total, 193 in this make and model, 204 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Observed at: BEH, 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 19831106059979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831106059979A), Nov 6, 1983: Cessna 152, Decatur, MI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot flew into IMC at night lost control and aircraft crashed into wooded area.

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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