# NTSB LAX83FA267: Cessna 152, N89894, Mesa, AZ, June 7, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 7, 1983, 12:25 local (19:25 UTC)
- Place: Mesa, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.430366, -111.709457 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4304&lon=-111.7095&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23460
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA267
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23460/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA267

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - stall - intentional, pilot in command
  - remedial action - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

PRIOR TO THE FLT, THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS 'GOING TO DO SOME AIRWORK.' ABOUT 1.2 HRS AFTER TAKEOFF, WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT FLYING EASTBOUND AT AN ESTIMATED ALTITUDE OF BETWEEN 2000 & 3500 FT AGL. A WITNESS WITH ABOUT 40 HRS OF AERONAUTICAL EXPERIENCE OBSERVED THE ACFT NOSE UP LIKE THE PLT WAS 'PRACTICING TAKEOFF TYPE STALLS.' ALL 4 WITNESSES NOTED THAT THE ACFT WENT INTO AN EXTREME NOSE UP ATTITUDE, THEN PITCHED OVER INTO A STEEP DESCENT. AS THE ACFT WAS DESCENDING, IT REPORTEDLY WAS PITCHING UP & DOWN & THE WINGS WERE ROCKING, THEN THE LEFT WING DROPPED & THE PLANE DISAPPEARED FROM THE WITNESSES VIEW. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE ACFT IMPACTED ON AN ELEVATED MESA AREA. THE WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED ABOUT 438 FT BEYOND THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE WAS MADE, BUT NO PREIMPACT, PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N89894 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15282907
- Airframe hours: 1524
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Corporate Jets, Inc.
- Registered owner: Gordon W. Holm
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 17, 1983, 58 hours before
- Departed: SDL, SCOTTSDALE, AZ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 208 total, 5 in this make and model, 148 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 100 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PHX, 15 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 19830607022219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830607022219A), Jun 7, 1983: Cessna 152, Mesa, AZ, Destroyed. Failed to recover from a near vertical practice stall. Impacted on top of a level desert Mesa.

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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