# NTSB CHI89DEM06: Cessna 152, N96863, Manistee, MI, August 8, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: August 8, 1989, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Manistee, MI
- Coordinates: 44.240776, -86.320549 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2408&lon=-86.3205&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14198
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89DEM06
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14198/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89DEM06

## Probable cause

THE PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER DURING INITIAL CLIMBOUT, AND THE AIRCRAFT'S SUBSEQUENT NOSE OVER DURING THE FORCED LANDING ROLL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel system,carburetor - blocked(partial) (cause)
  - fuel supply - restricted (cause)
  - powerplant - failure,partial
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT DURING INITIAL CLIMBOUT, HE HEARD A CHANGE IN THE ENGINE NOISE. THE 'AIRSPEED DECREASED AND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE.'  THE STUDENT PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND CAME TO REST INVERTED IN THE FIELD. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL METERING JET FROM THE FLOAT CHAMBER OF THE CARBURETOR WAS BLOCKED BY A LARGE INSECT, RESULTING IN PARTIAL FUEL STARVATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N96863 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15286026
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-N2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Western Michigan University
- Registered owner: Western Michigan University
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: AAIP, March 30, 1989, 27 hours before
- Destination: JXN, JACKSON, MI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: MBL, Manistee-Blacker

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 99 total, 84 in this make and model, 43 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MBL, 1 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 19890808032609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890808032609A), Aug 8, 1989: Cessna 152, Manistee, MI, Substantial damage. Engine quit on climbout. Nosed over landing in a soft field. Found an insect in fuel had blocked carb metering jet.

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.