# NTSB NYC90FA220: Cessna 152, N95644, Plain City, OH, September 14, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 14, 1990, 04:37 local (08:37 UTC)
- Place: Plain City, OH
- Coordinates: 40.100669, -83.269081 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1007&lon=-83.2691&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36548
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90FA220
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36548/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90FA220

## Probable cause

POOR JUDGEMENT OF THE PILOT DUE TO CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL, FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE/TRAINING FOR FLIGHT AT NIGHT OR IN INSTRUMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE NON-CERTIFIED PLT & PSGR DEPARTED THE ARPT AT NIGHT IN WX THAT WAS ABOUT 300' OVERCAST WITH 3 MI VISIBILITY & FOG.  THE PLT HAD ONLY ABOUT 8.3 HRS OF FLT TIME.  HE HAD NO TRAINING FOR FLT AT NIGHT.  AFTER TAKEOFF, HE RADIOED A DISTRESS CALL TO THE LOCAL APCH CTL FACILITY.  THE APCH CTLR ATTEMPTED TO VECTOR THE ACFT TO A SAFE LANDING.  ABOUT 12 MIN LATER, THE CTLR LOST RADIO & RADAR CONTACT WITH THE PLANE.  THE ACFT WAS FOUND WHERE IT HAD CRASHED IN AN OPEN FIELD.  THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE ACFT WAS IN A STEEP DSCNT WHEN IT CRASHED.  THE PROP WAS TWISTED & BENT WITH CHORDWISE SCRATCHES.  TOXICOLOGY TESTING OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LVL OF 230 MG/DL (0.230%).

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N95644](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N95644-1991-03-01), registration cancelled 1991-03-01, S/N 15285950 (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: 15285950
- Airframe hours: 1427
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-N2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Aero Squadron Flying Club
- Registered owner: Jon Hazelbaker
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 26, 1990, 20 hours before
- Departed: OSU, COLUMBUS, OH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 8 total, 8 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 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 19900914040029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900914040029A), Sep 14, 1990: Cessna 152, Plain City, OH, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Student departed at night into IMC no panel lights. ATC had contact but pilot eventually lost control and crashed.

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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