# NTSB MKC87FA085: Cessna 152, N67751, Marion, IA, April 20, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 20, 1987, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Marion, IA
- Coordinates: 42.030681, -91.580993 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0307&lon=-91.5810&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 27, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34287
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC87FA085
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34287/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC87FA085

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing
  - airspeed - not maintained, dual student (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, dual student (cause)
  - lack of total experience, dual student
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

THE CFI AND STU WERE PRACTICING APPROACHES TO THE MARION, IOWA ARPT. SEVERAL WITNESSES STATED THAT THE T & G LNDGS WERE UNUSUAL WHICH GAINED THEIR ATTN. ON THE LAST APPCH THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO BE SLOW DURING THE UNUSUALLY STEEP APPCH. ABT 15 TO 20 FT AGL THE ACFT PITCHED NOSE DOWN UNTIL STRIKING THE RWY. THE ACFT BROKE IN HALF WITH THE NOSE AND WINGS FLIPPING INVERTED. THE WITNESSES THOUGHT THAT THE ACFT HAD STALLED ABV THE RWY CRASHING IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS NOTED DURING THE ON SCENE INSPECTION OF THE ACFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N67751](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N67751-1989-01-12), registration cancelled 1989-01-12, S/N 15281996 (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: 15281996
- Airframe hours: 3209
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: P & N Flight School
- Registered owner: P&N Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 2, 1987, 53 hours before
- Airport: C-17, Marion, runway 17, 2,800 × 100 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,250 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 84 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19870420010509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870420010509A), Apr 20, 1987: Cessna 152, Marion, IA, Substantial damage, 2 fatal. Slow on final. High flare. Stalled. Broke in half on runway. No mechanical problems. Too slow for wind conditions.

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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