# NTSB MIA87FA084: Cessna 152, N773WA, Ochopee, FL, February 15, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 15, 1987, 17:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place: Ochopee, FL
- Location: 25.9015° N, 81.3034° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ochopee, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.9015&lon=-81.3034&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 30, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31750
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87FA084
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31750/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87FA084

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - , pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WHILE ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS. DURING A TURN AND DESCENT TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT WITH TERRAIN THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N773WA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N773WA-1989-03-21), registration cancelled 1989-03-21, S/N 15279837 (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: 15279837
- Airframe hours: 3818
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: A. Ruth Hogsett
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 4, 1987, 80 hours before
- Departed: VRB, VERO BEACH, FL
- Destination: TMB, MIAMI, FL
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 45 total, 45 in this make and model, 9 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Wind: 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft broken
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TMB, 21 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 19870215002789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870215002789A), Feb 15, 1987: Cessna 152, Ochopee, FL, Destroyed. The aircraft flew into a swamp in deteriorating weather conditions. Student was briefed on alternate options.

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.