# NTSB DEN90LA194: Cessna 152, N6581M, Erie, CO, September 28, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 27, 1990, 18:40 local (Sep 28, 1990, 00:40 UTC)
- Place: Erie, CO
- Coordinates: 40.020751, -105.040534 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0208&lon=-105.0405&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 22, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17996
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA194
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17996/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA194

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE, AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - distance - misjudged, dual student (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - light condition - dusk
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - wire,transmission(marked)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment

## Analysis

THE GLIDER-RATED STUDENT PILOT WAS RECEIVING DUAL TRANSITION INSTRUCTION AND WAS CONDUCTING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. ON THE FOURTH APPROACH, THE INSTRUCTOR 'FELT THE AIRPLANE WAS LOW, BUT NOT DANGEROUSLY SO,' AND TOLD THE STUDENT TO ADD POWER. THE INSTRUCTOR SAW THE ORANGE MARKER BALLS ON THE POWERLINES BUT FELT THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD CLEARED THEM. THE AIRPLANE SEVERED TWO POWERLINES, LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK A DIRT BANK AND OVERTURNED. RUNWAY 9 EQUIPPED WITH LOW INTENSITY RUNWAY LIGHTS; DOES NOT HAVE A VASI.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6581M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6581M-1991-03-26), registration cancelled 1991-03-26, S/N 15284769 (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: 15284769
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Tri-County Flight School, Inc.
- Departed: 48V
- Airport: 48V, Tri-County, runway 9, 3,830 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 835 total, 49 in this make and model, 727 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: BJC, 8 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 19900927042539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900927042539A), Sep 27, 1990: Cessna 152, Erie, CO, Destroyed. Struck powerlines on short final during dusk landing. Aircraft landed short, hit dirt berm and flipped over.

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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