# NTSB DEN90LA114: Cessna 152, N714UE, Erie, CO, May 22, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 22, 1990, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Erie, CO
- Coordinates: 40.020465, -105.039558 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0205&lon=-105.0396&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17934
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA114
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17934/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA114

## Probable cause

CFI'S FAILURE TO ENSURE THAT THE STUDENT PILOT MAINTAINED SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED, RESULTING IN THE INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH. A FACTOR WAS THE DOWNDRAFT EXPERIENCED AT LOW ALTITUDE AFTER TAKEOFF.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled
  - aircraft control - not maintained, dual student
  - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command(cfi)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

A NEW STUDENT PILOT AND HIS CFI WERE ON INITIAL CLIMB, AT 150 FEET AGL, WITH THE LEFT SEAT STUDENT AS THE SOLE MANIPULATOR OF THE CONTROLS. THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT, THE STUDENT LOST CONTROL, AND THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. THE CFI WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND THE PLANE STRUCK THE TERRAIN IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE. THE NOSE GEAR WAS SHEARED, THE PLANE NOSED OVER, THE TAIL SECTION SEPARATED AFT OF THE CABIN AND THE FUSELAGE TUMBLED END FOR END TWICE. THE CABIN CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE OCCUPANTS THEN EXITED AND NOTICED A SMALL FIRE IN GASCOLATOR AREA, WHICH SELF-EXTINGUISHED IN A FEW MINUTES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N714UE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N714UE-1990-11-21), registration cancelled 1990-11-21, S/N 15279437 (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: 15279437
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Skies Unlimited, Inc.
- Destination: 48V
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,050 total, 250 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 16,000 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19900522017049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900522017049A), May 22, 1990: Cessna 152, Erie, CO, Substantial damage. Pilot reported unrecoverable downdraft on final. Hard landing broke nose gear. Flipped over. Wind reported light.

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.