# NTSB FTW89FA159: Cessna 152, N24516, Houma, LA, September 3, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 3, 1989, 18:46 local (23:46 UTC)
- Place: Houma, LA
- Coordinates: 29.569187, -90.699111 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5692&lon=-90.6991&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22786
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89FA159
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22786/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89FA159

## Probable cause (aircraft 2)

THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO SEE-AND-AVOID EACH OTHER'S AIRCRAFT (INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT).  A PROBABLE FACTOR WAS: FAILURE OF EITHER PILOT TO ISSUE A TRAFFIC ADVISORY.

## Sequence of events

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

- Midair collision, maneuvering
  - traffic advisory - not issued, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - traffic advisory - not issued, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
- Midair collision, climb - to cruise
  - traffic advisory - not issued, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - traffic advisory - not issued, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

A STUDENT PLT IN CESSNA 152, N24516, TOOK OFF ON RWY 18 TO PRACTICE TFC PATTERN WORK & PERFORM TOUCH & GO LNDGS. ALSO, AN ATP PLT IN AEROSPATIALE AS-355F-1, N5796P, DEPARTED THE HELICOPTER OPNS AREA AT THE NORTH END OF THE ARPT ON A PSNG FLT TO A HOSPITAL ABOUT 3 MI TO THE NW. THE TOWER HAD CLOSED EARLIER (AT 1800 CDT). SVRL ARPT PSNL WERE ON DUTY (INCLUDING PSNL AT OPERATOR FACILITIES); THOSE INTERVIEWED, DID NOT RECALL HEARING A RADIO ADZY FM EITHER PLT. AT ABOUT 1846 CDT, THE 2 ACFT COLLIDED ABOUT 1.4 MI NW OF THE ARPT AT AN ESTD ALT OF 500 TO 600 FT. WITNESSES RPRTD THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS CLIMBING ON A NW HDG, WHILE THE CESSNA WAS IN LVL FLT. ONE WITNESS THOUGHT THE CESSNA HAD TURNED ONTO A BASE LEG FOR RWY 12. JUST BEFORE IMPACT, THE CESSNA ENTERED AN ABRUPT LEFT CLIMBING TURN & ROLLED OUT OF THE TURN SLIGHTLY ABV & TO THE RGT OF THE HELICOPTER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THEY CONVERGED & THE HELICOPTER'S MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CESSNA, THEN BOTH CRASHED. THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT OBSERVED TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTN.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N24516](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24516-1990-07-16), registration cancelled 1990-07-16, S/N 15280304 (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: 15208304
- Airframe hours: 4048
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 125 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Walker-Watts Aviation, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 30, 1989, 55 hours before
- Departed: HUM
- Destination: HUM
- Airport: HUM, Terrebonne, runway 18, 5,001 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N5796P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5796P-1990-07-16), registration cancelled 1990-07-16, S/N 5163 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS-355F-1
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale AS 355F1](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as-355f1) (registry code 8680810) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 5163
- Airframe hours: 6071
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20F 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Petroleum Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, August 22, 1989, 7 hours before
- Departed: HUM
- Destination: NONE
- Airport: HUM, Terrebonne

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N24516; age 38; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 30 total, 30 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N5796P; age 43; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 7,452 total, 45 in this make and model, 7,388 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HUM, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890903033632A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890903033632A), Sep 3, 1989: Cessna 152, Houma, LA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. In cruise was struck by rotors of N5796P that was climbing to cruise. Pilot tried to avoid helicopter prior impact.
- [Accident 19890903033631A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890903033631A), Sep 3, 1989: Aerosp AS355F1, Houma, LA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Climbed and collided with N24516 that was at cruise flight and had made a avoidence manuever. Both fell to ground.

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.