# NTSB FTW85LA186: Cessna 152, N89862, Roby, TX, April 17, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 17, 1985, 12:20 local (18:20 UTC)
- Place: Roby, TX
- Coordinates: 32.73925, -100.3694 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7392&lon=-100.3694&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21724
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA186
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21724/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA186

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall/spin - not corrected, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - high vegetation

## Analysis

THE PIPELINE PATROL PLT DIVERTED FROM THE NORMAL ROUTE TO CIRCLE OVER A HOUSE IN WHICH HE USED TO LIVE. WITNESSES REPORTED THE ACFT WAS IN A LOW ALT LEFT TURN WHEN THE LEFT WING DROPPED AND THE RATE OF TURN INCREASED. THE ACFT IMPACTED A TREE IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. NO EVIDENCE OF AN ENG FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N89862 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15282895
- Airframe hours: 3972
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Registered owner: Beaty Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 28, 1984
- Departed: SNK, SNYDER, TX
- Destination: ETN, EASTLAND, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,963 total, 4,907 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABI, 41 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 19850417013199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850417013199A), Apr 17, 1985: Cessna 152, Roby, TX, Destroyed. During turn aircraft impacted a tree in a steep dive. Pipeline patrol was flying over former home.

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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