# NTSB NYC87FA045: Cessna 152, N69123, Carlisle, PA, December 6, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 6, 1986, 14:11 local (19:11 UTC)
- Place: Carlisle, PA
- Coordinates: 40.199844, -77.199058 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1998&lon=-77.1991&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30478
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87FA045
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30478/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87FA045

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - open field
  - descent - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - daylight
  - aerobatics - performed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT FLYING A CESSNA 152 SCHEDULED HIS FLIGHT PERIOD SO IT COINCIDED WITH ANOTHER STUDENT PILOT FLYING A CESSNA 172. THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 172 REPORTED SEEING THE CESSNA 152 ENTER A TWO TURN SPIN AND RECOVER. HE THEN SAID HE LOST SIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED TWO AIRCRAFT ENGAGED IN AERIAL MANEUVERING. OTHER WITNESSES SAW THE CESSNA 152 IN A TERMINAL DIVE FROM WHICH NO RECOVERY WAS MADE. NO WITNESSES WHO OBSERVED THE AERIAL MANUEVERING OBSERVED THE TERMINAL DIVE. NO PRE-EXISTING PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND WITH THE AIRFRAME. THE ENGINE HAD WEAR NOTED, BUT NO PRE-EXISTING FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE PILOT WAS THROWN CLEAR OF THE WRECKAGE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT AND POST CRASH FIRE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N69123](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N69123-1992-09-18), registration cancelled 1992-09-18, S/N 15282498 (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: 15282498
- Airframe hours: 2819
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Clark Aviation Corp.
- Registered owner: Clark Aviation Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, October 3, 1986, 95 hours before
- Departed: CXY, CUMBERLAND, PA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 16; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 27 total, 27 in this make and model, 7 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CXY

## 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 19861206087469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861206087469A), Dec 6, 1986: Cessna 152, Carlisle, PA, Destroyed. Student pilot was observed doing spins then dive to ground impact. Spins not on students schedule.

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.
