# NTSB CHI90FA105: Cessna 152, N4671M, Oberlin, OH, March 30, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 30, 1990, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Oberlin, OH
- Coordinates: 41.289146, -82.209777 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2891&lon=-82.2098&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 13, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14526
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90FA105
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14526/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90FA105

## Probable cause

IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT BY THE DUAL STUDENT, CARBURETOR ICE, INADEQUATE SUPERVISION TO CORRECT THE SITUATION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI), AND FAILURE OF THE CFI TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. CARBURETOR ICING CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent
  - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause)
  - carburetor heat - improper use of, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRPLANE WAS IN A WIDE SPIRAL, THEN IT SUDDENLY ENTERED A DIVE & CRASHED.  ONE WITNESS, WHO WAS OUTSIDE & AWAY FROM STRUCTURES, REPORTED THE ENGINE WAS SPUTTERING, JUST BEFORE IMPACT.  THE DUAL STUDENT RETAINED ONLY A FRAGMENTED MEMORY OF THE DAY OF THE ACDNT.  HOWEVER, HE REMEMBERED THAT THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER DURING A POWER APPLICATION.  ALSO, HE REPORTED THAT CARBURETOR HEAT HAD BEEN USED PRIOR TO APPLICATION OF POWER.  A REVIEW OF THE INSTRUCTOR & STUDENT LOGBOOKS SHOWED THAT THERE HAD BEEN INSTRUCTION IN EMERGENCY PROCEDURES DURING THE PREVIOUS PERIOD OF INSTRUCTION.  NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.  THE ENGINE WAS MOUNTED ON A TEST STAND & OPERATED TO 1000 RPM.  THE TEMPERATURE & DEW POINT WERE REPORTED TO BE 54 & 47 DEG, RESPECTIVELY.  ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO SERIOUS ICING AT CRUISE POWER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4671M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4671M-1990-10-01), registration cancelled 1990-10-01, S/N 15284476 (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: 15284476
- Airframe hours: 5223
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Maria Gousio
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 28, 1990, 23 hours before
- Departed: 1G1, ELYRIA, OH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 877 total, 135 in this make and model, 833 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CLE, 13 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 19900330006879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900330006879A), Mar 30, 1990: Cessna 152, Oberlin, OH, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Engine lost power during flight maneuver. CFI took over but stalled aircraft. Carburetor icing conditions in 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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