# NTSB DEN87LA182: Cessna 152, N95876, New Rockford, ND, July 13, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 13, 1987, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: New Rockford, ND
- Coordinates: 47.679973, -99.130165 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6800&lon=-99.1302&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17269
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87LA182
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17269/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA182

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - engine assembly,piston - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - emergency procedure - performed, pilot in command
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (cause)
  - landing gear,nose gear - collapsed (cause)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT WAS ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. HE NOTICED A DROP IN ENGINE RPM. AN ENGINE VIBRATION BEGAN AND ANOTHER AIRCRAFT REPORTED SEEING A SMOKE TRAIL. THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING AND SELECTED A WHEAT FIELD. THE PLT MADE AN EMERGENCY BROADCAST AND PERFORMED A SOFT FIELD LANDING. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE WHEEL SANK INTO THE MUD AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. A POST CRASH ENGINE INSPECTION REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE NUMBER FOUR PISTON HAD BROKEN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N95876](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N95876-1998-07-25), registration cancelled 1998-07-25, S/N 15285978 (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: 15285978
- Airframe hours: 1732
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-N2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Univ. Of North Dakota
- Registered owner: University Of North Dakota
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 18, 1987, 61 hours before
- Departed: DVL, DEVILS LAKE, ND
- Destination: JMS, JAMESTOWN, ND
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 17; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 25 total, 5 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19870713041139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870713041139A), Jul 13, 1987: Cessna 152, New Rockford, ND, Substantial damage. Drop in engine RPM and trailing smoke. Elected to land in a soft field and nosed over. A piston had broken.

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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