# NTSB LAX89LA035: Cessna 152, N4657L, Chandler, AZ, November 4, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 4, 1988, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Chandler, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.239883, -111.780113 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2399&lon=-111.7801&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 4, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26284
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA035
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26284/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA035

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - altitude - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering

## Analysis

THE PILOT LOST CONTROL AND COLLIDED WITH THE RUNWAY WHILE MANEUVERING FOR LANDING. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE TESTING ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS WITH METEOROLOGICAL EQUIPMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH NOISE TESTING OF A BOEING 707 'HUSH' KIT. THE CESSNA TOOKOFF HEADING SE. IT CLIMBED TO 800 FT AGL AND BEGAN DOING DESCENDING RIGHT-HAND TURNS OVER AN UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT ON THE GROUND. AFTER DESCENDING TO ABOUT 50 FT AGL, THE CESSNA CLIMBED TO ABOUT 100 FT AGL. AT THIS POINT THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE RUNWAY. HEADING SE CROSSING OVER THE RUNWAY AT AN ANGLE, THE AIRCRAFT WAS TURNED LEFT TO BE ALIGNED WITH THE RUNWAY. DURING THE LEFT-HAND TURN THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND ENTERED A LEFT-HAND SPIN. THE AIRCRAFT MADE 1/2 TO 3/4 REVOLUTION PRIOR TO MAKING CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED IN AN OVERWEIGHT CONDITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4657L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4657L-1990-03-14), registration cancelled 1990-03-14, S/N 15284210 (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: 15284210
- Airframe hours: 1600
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-N2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Glazar, Richard, doing business as Venture Avaition
- Registered owner: Richard Glazar
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Airport: NONE, Pima Memorial, runway 12, 8,560 × 300 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 550 total, 300 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CHD, 13 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 19881104049569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881104049569A), Nov 4, 1988: Cessna 152, Chandler, AZ, Destroyed. Stalled and spun in during low altitude turns to record temperature and humidity for aircraft noise research.

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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