# NTSB FTW89FA132: Cessna 152, N49056, Arlington, TX, July 11, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 11, 1989, 01:41 local (06:41 UTC)
- Place: Arlington, TX
- Coordinates: 32.720214, -97.080673 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7202&lon=-97.0807&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22777
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89FA132
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22777/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89FA132

## Probable cause

POOR JUDGEMENT OF THE PILOT, DUE TO IMPAIRMENT FROM CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE WHILE MANEUVERING.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  DARKNESS, THE PILOT'S RECENT USE OF DRUGS, AND HIS LACK OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stolen aircraft/unauthorized use - performed, pilot in command
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

A STUDENT PLT WITH ONLY ABOUT 14 HRS OF FLT TIME TOOK THE ACFT AT NIGHT WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION & DEPD ON A FLT.  THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED MANUEVERING AT LOW ALT IN THE SURROUNDING AREA, THEN THE PLT RTRND TO THE ARPT.  RPRTDLY, THE PLT BOUNCED THE ACFT ON THE RWY SVRL TIMES, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND.  SUBSEQUENTLY, WHILE MANEUVERING IN AN APPARENT ATTEMPT TO LAND, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A TRANSMISSION LINE & CRASHED.  TOXICOLOGY TESTS SHOWED THE PLT HAD A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.34 GM% (0.34%); HIS URINE TESTED POSITIVE FOR CANNABINOIDS.  A TAXICAB DRIVER, WHO DELIVERED THE PLT TO THE ARPT, SAID HE (THE PLT) SMELLED OF ALCOHOL & HAD A BEER IN HIS POSSESSION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N49056](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49056-1994-02-11), registration cancelled 1994-02-11, S/N 15281127 (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: 15281127
- Airframe hours: 5523
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Cothron Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 8, 1989, 88 hours before
- Airport: F54, Arlington Muni, runway 16, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 14 total, 13 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 160° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FTW, 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 19890711021369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890711021369A), Jul 11, 1989: Cessna 152, Arlington, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Stole aircraft flew erractically,tried to land several times. Hit wires and crashed. Test showed alcohol and drugs.

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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