# NTSB CHI90LA011: Cessna 152, N757GB, Hillsdale, MI, October 14, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 14, 1989, 10:20 local (14:20 UTC)
- Place: Hillsdale, MI
- Coordinates: 41.919929, -84.62915 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9199&lon=-84.6291&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14578
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90LA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14578/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90LA011

## Probable cause

POOR JUDGEMENT OF THE STUDENT PILOT BY NOT FOLLOWING HIS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S DIRECTIONS ON HIS FIRST SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT AND BY NOT MAINTAINING A SAFE ALTITUDE, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN.  RELATED FACTORS WERE: UNAUTHORIZED LOW FLIGHT BY THE STUDENT AND HIS STEEP TURN (MANEUVER) AT LOW ALTITUDE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT WAS ON HIS 1ST SUPERVISED SOLO FLT. BEFORE TAKEOFF, HIS INSTRUCTOR TOLD HIM TO MAKE 3 TAKEOFFS & FULL STOP LANDINGS. AFTER THE 2ND LANDING, HE DEPARTED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN & DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT HIM ON UNICOM. THE PLT'S SON-IN-LAW RPRTD HE TOOK PICTURES OF THE ACFT AS IT FLEW OVER HIS HOUSE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS SEEN FLYING LOW OVER A GOLF COURSE, BEFORE IT CRASHED. WITNESSES RPRTD THE ACFT ENTERED A STEEP LEFT BANK BEFORE IT DISAPPEARED BELOW TREES, SECONDS BEFORE IMPACTING IN AN ADJACENT FIELD. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N757GB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N757GB-1990-08-13), registration cancelled 1990-08-13, S/N 15279719 (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: 15279719
- Airframe hours: 2596
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hillsdale Aero, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 27, 1989, 60 hours before
- Departed: Y85, HILLSDALE, MI
- Destination: Y85

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 30 total, 20 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: JXN, 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 19891014040239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891014040239A), Oct 14, 1989: Cessna 152, Hillsdale, MI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Student on first solo flew over daughters residence at low altitude and stalled in steep turn. Demolished on impact

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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