# NTSB SEA95LA163: Cessna 152, N588BR, Wellsville, UT, July 26, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 25, 1995, 21:00 local (Jul 26, 1995, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Wellsville, UT - Coordinates: 41.620422, -111.92974 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6204&lon=-111.9297&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 8, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42205 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA163 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42205/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA163 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE WITH FLYING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN WHILE THE PILOT WAS MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE NEAR MOUNTAINS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE NOTICED HIS ALTITUDE WAS DROPPING SO HE INCREASED POWER TO FULL AND INCREASED HIS CLIMB RATE. HE SAID THE NEXT THING HE HEARD WAS THE STALL WARNING HORN. HE SAID THE AIRCRAFT AGAIN BEGAN TO DROP AND THE LEFT WING WENT DOWN SUDDENLY. HE NOTED THE AIRSPEED AT THAT MOMENT, JUST BEFORE IMPACT, WAS APPROXIMATELY 40 KIAS. THE PILOT LATER REPORTED THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HE WAS MORE FAMILIAR WITH MOUNTAIN FLYING AND DENSITY ALTITUDE. ## Factual narrative On July 25, 1995, approximately 2100 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Cessna 152, N588BR, impacted the terrain while maneuvering near Wellsville, Utah. The private pilot received minor injuries, his passenger was not injured, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The local personal pleasure flight, which departed Logan-Cache Airport about 30 minutes earlier, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and the ELT, which was activated by the impact, was turned off at the scene. According to the pilot, he and his passenger were looking at property when he noticed that the aircraft was sinking and the airspeed was low. He applied full power, but was unable to keep the aircraft from colliding with the terrain. The pilot said that a combination of high density altitude and an undetected downdraft created a situation from which he could not recover. In a written statement in an NTSB 6120.1/2 form, he noted that the accident could have been prevented if he was more familiar with mountain flying and density altitude. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N588BR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N588BR), registered now, S/N 15281860 (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: 15281860 - Airframe hours: 2345 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Great Western Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 10, 1995, 36 hours before - Departed: LGU, LOGAN, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 208 total, 3 in this make and model, 162 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 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 19950725024709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950725024709A), Jul 25, 1995: Cessna 152, Wellsville, UT, Substantial damage. Circling low altitude. Entered downdraft unable recover. Stall mushed to ground impact. Blamed high density altitude ## Other investigations on N588BR (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 ERA26LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA135), Mar 3, 2026: Cessna 152 (N588BR), Thonotosassa, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning and improper in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. 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.