# NTSB SEA90LA186: Cessna 152, N67853, Kamas, UT, September 17, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 17, 1990, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Kamas, UT
- Coordinates: 40.620094, -111.150062 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6201&lon=-111.1501&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41278
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA90LA186
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41278/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90LA186

## Probable cause

POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT. THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A POSSIBLE DOWNDRAFT CONDITION WHILE MANEUVERING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH TREES.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

DURING A LOCAL FLIGHT WHILE MANEUVERING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO DESCEND. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DESCEND EVEN AT BEST RATE OF CLIMB SPEED. THE PILOT LEVELED THE AIRPLANE AND THE AIRSPEED INCREASED; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE HAD DESCENDED BELOW THE RIDGE LINE. UNABLE TO REGAIN ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE TERRAIN, THE PILOT SELECTED AN AREA FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. DURING THE DESCENT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES. THERE WERE NO REPORTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N67853](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N67853-1995-09-12), registration cancelled 1995-09-12, S/N 15282059 (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: 15282059
- Airframe hours: 7101
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Michael P. Mcphie, doing business as Western Flyers
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 24, 1990, 49 hours before
- Departed: PVU, PROVO, UT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 60 total, 47 in this make and model, 23 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19900917039609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900917039609A), Sep 17, 1990: Cessna 152, Kamas, UT, Destroyed. Maneuvering in mountain area. Encountered downdraft and crashed in trees.

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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