# NTSB NYC96LA089: Cessna 152, N89414, Greenville, NY, April 21, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 21, 1996, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Greenville, NY - Coordinates: 42.409816, -74.019851 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4098&lon=-74.0199&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report December 23, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39167 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39167/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA089 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to gain adequate airspeed due to inadequate planning in which he conducted a downwind takeoff, resulting in a stall mush, and collision with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind - airspeed - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot departed on turf runway 7, which was surrounded by trees. He reported the winds as variable to a light tailwind. After getting airborne, the airplane encountered turbulence, would not climb, and eventually struck trees beyond the departure end of the runway. There was no report of an engine problem. The FAA reported that the prevailing winds in the area were from 260 degrees at 10 knots, with gusts to 20 knots. The pilot had received his private pilot certificate three weeks prior to the accident, and had a total time of 102 hours. ## Factual narrative On April 21, 1996, at 1630 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, struck trees after departing a private airport in Greenville, New York. The private pilot and passenger received minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal transportation flight which was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. The planned destination was Farmingdale, New Jersey. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated: "...The winds seemed light and variable slight between crosswind and slight tailwind. The sock went from limp to 1/2 inflated at most...When the wind seemed most favorable, I accelerated...Acceleration seemed to take its time but we were light at the transition from level to downgrade on the rway and the wheels were off the ground at about the center of the southern-most hanger. I felt committed to the takeoff at this point and pushed over slightly to accelerate to 60 kts. When I pulled back gently to climbout the plane seemed to climb, then sink instead. I believe the stall warning sounded and I pushed the nose back to level to regain speed. I then tried to climb out again and the plane just would not climbout. At about this point a gust of wind knocked my left wing low for an instant. My recovery was instant but a few seconds later I believe my left wing brushed the top of a tree lightly. The plane was not affected but still not climbing.... I felt I could not avoid the tree without turning hard and either hitting other trees, left and right, or stall and spinning in. I decided to bull my way thru the highest point I could reach on the tree. Trying not to stall, I kept a slight right bank angle and attempted a gently zoom up at the last instant so as not to hit the center of the plane at the center of the tree. When we hit the tree, our tail was flipped up and we crash landed in the field beyond the tree..." According to a Federal Aviation Agency Operations Inspector, the airport was surrounded by trees. The runway was 2300 feet long, smooth, with a turf surface and the grass was about 1 inch high. The recommended takeoff was downhill and landing was uphill. The pilot was departing on runway 7, which was downhill. In interviews with both the pilot and passenger, there were no reports of problems with the engine. The prevailing winds were from the west at 10 knots with gusts to 20 knots. The pilot had received his Private Pilot Certificate on March 31, 1996. He reported his total time as 102 hours with 81 hours in a Cessna 152. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N89414](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89414-1997-05-09), registration cancelled 1997-05-09, S/N 15282737 (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: 15282737 - Airframe hours: 6410 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David Harrison - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 11, 1996, 15 hours before - Departed: NK79 - Destination: BLM, FARMINGDALE, NJ - Airport: NK79, Lewis Landing, runway 7, 2,200 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 102 total, 81 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 10 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SWF, 36 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 19960421047609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960421047609A), Apr 21, 1996: Cessna 152, Greenville, NY, Destroyed. (-16) Pilot in command attempted to depart downwind on a 2300 ft. grass runway with a tailwind of 10 knots gusting to 20 knots. The aircraft weight was at… 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.