# NTSB CHI85LA273: Cessna 152, N66944, Almont, MI, July 10, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 10, 1985, 15:10 local (19:10 UTC)
- Place: Almont, MI
- Coordinates: 42.91991, -83.039627 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9199&lon=-83.0396&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13127
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85LA273
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13127/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85LA273

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - performed, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT STATED THAT DURING TOUCHDOWN THE ACFT BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR. ON THE SECOND TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND DEPARTED THE RWY. IT THEN ROLLED UNTIL THE LEFT WING STRUCK A SMALL TREE, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THAT WING. THE LANDING RWY HEADING WAS 040 DEGREES AND THE WINDS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE 340 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS WITH 'SLIGHT' GUSTS. HE ALSO STATED THAT LIGHT TURBULENCE EXISTED IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N66944](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66944-2014-11-07), registration cancelled 2014-11-07, S/N 15281679, built 1978 (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: 15281679
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Almont Air Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 12, 1985, 36 hours before
- Airport: 37G, Almont, runway 4, 2,280 × 30 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 59 total, 49 in this make and model, 7 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DET, 50 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 19850710036579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850710036579A), Jul 10, 1985: Cessna 152, Almont, MI, Substantial damage. Bounced on landing and veered off the runway striking a small tree.

## Other investigations on N66944 (2)

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 CHI82DA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82DA116), Apr 7, 1982: Cessna 152 (N66944), Pontiac, MI, substantial damage
- [NTSB IAD79FLJ04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79FLJ04), Jan 17, 1979: Cessna 152 (N66944), Durham, NC, substantial 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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