# NTSB MIA88FA081: Cessna 152, N24480, Parkland, FL, January 2, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 2, 1988, 08:04 local (13:04 UTC)
- Place: Parkland, FL
- Coordinates: 26.30953, -80.229858 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.3095&lon=-80.2299&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 19, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32001
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA88FA081
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32001/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88FA081

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - descent - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - pull-up - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - psychological condition, pilot in command (cause)
  - anxiety/apprehension, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACFT WAS SEEN DESCENDING IN A NEAR VERTICAL DIVE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WITH NO ROTATION ALONG THE ROLL AXIS. THE ACFT CRASHED NOSE FIRST INTO A NEWLY PLANTED CORN FIELD. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT STRUCTURE, FLIGHT CONTROLS, AND ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRECRASH MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PILOT HAD EXPERIENCED MEDICAL PROBLEMS WITH CANCER; HIS BROTHER HAD DIED FROM CANCER; HIS FATHER HAD DIED THREE MONTHS BEFORE; AND HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW, WHOM HE WAS CLOSE TO, RECENTLY HAD A STROKE. THE PILOT'S WIFE INITIALLY STATED THAT SHE BELIEVED THE PILOT HAD INTENTIONALLY KILLED HIMSELF. THE PILOT WAS ON AN UNSUPERVISED SOLO BUT HAD NOT BEEN CLEARED OUT OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS 11 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. THE MEDICAL EXAMINER RULED THE MANNER OF DEATH AS SUICIDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N24480](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24480-1989-06-07), registration cancelled 1989-06-07, S/N 15280277 (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: 15280277
- Airframe hours: 2201
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Am. Avia. Trn. Ent., Inc., doing business as American Aviation
- Registered owner: Fmc Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 15, 1987, 77 hours before
- Departed: FXE, FT. LAUDERDALE, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 44 total, 42 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FXE, 10 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 19880102000029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880102000029A), Jan 2, 1988: Cessna 152, Parkland, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Was seen to dive vertically to the ground. Pilot had been disturbed by family tragedies and recurrent eye cancer.

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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