# NTSB MKC89LA059: Cessna 152, N95975, Crookston, MN, February 13, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 13, 1989, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Crookston, MN
- Coordinates: 47.770183, -96.600097 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7702&lon=-96.6001&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34752
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC89LA059
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34752/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89LA059

## Probable cause

PREMATURE RAISING OF FLAPS AND THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE ATTEMPTED GO AROUND.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted
  - go-around - attempted, dual student
  - raising of flaps - premature, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE CFI AND STUDENT PILOT HAD COMPLETED 3 TOUCH AND GOES WITHOUT INCIDENT, AND ON THE FOURTH ATTEMPT THE CFI WAS GOING TO FLY JUST ABOVE THE RUNWAY TO ASSIST THE STUDENT JUDGE HIS FLARE HEIGHT. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR TOUCHED DOWN AND A GO AROUND MANUEVER WAS INITIATED. THE STUDENT ADDED FULL POWER AND THE CFI RETRACTED THE FLAPS TO THE 20 DEGREE POSITION. THE ACFT DESCENDED, DRIFTED TO THE LEFT, STRUCK A SNOW BANK AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. A SLIGHT RIGHT CROSS WIND EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PRE-SOLO STUDENT HAD 9 HOURS OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, ALL IN THE CESSNA 152.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N95975](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N95975-1998-12-03), registration cancelled 1998-12-03, S/N 15285994 (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: 15285994
- Airframe hours: 2957
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: University Of North Dakota
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 9, 1989, 64 hours before
- Departed: GFK, GRAND FORKS, ND
- Destination: CKN, CROOKSTON, MN
- Airport: CKN, Kirkwood Fld, runway 31, 3,502 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 582 total, 326 in this make and model, 380 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GFK, 25 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 19890213001879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890213001879A), Feb 13, 1989: Cessna 152, Crookston, MN, Substantial damage. Left gear hit runway on flare height demo. Began go around. Aircraft drifted and settled into a snowbank. Nosed over

## Other investigations on N95975 (1)

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.

- [NTSB DEN90LA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA015), Oct 24, 1989: Cessna 152 (N95975), Grand Forks, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. THE WIND CONDITION WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

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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