Cessna 152 accident near Ravenna, Ohio, May 4, 1989
On May 4, 1989 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N47316, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ravenna, Ohio (Portage County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT IN COMMAND FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHILE LANDING IN A GUSTY CROSSWIND. THE CROSSWIND COMPONENT EXCEEDED THE PUBLISHED DEMONSTRATED CROSSWIND CAPABILITY OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 1989 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Ravenna, Ohio · Portage County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N47316 · no longer on the register · serial 15283213
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD BEEN FLYING IN THE LOCAL AREA FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES AND HAD PLANNED TO MAKE A 'FEW TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS' FOR PRACTICE. HE HAD MADE ONE DUAL AND TWO SOLO FLIGHTS SINCE THE FIRST OF THE YEAR PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT. HE MADE AN APPROACH TO RUNWAY 27 WITH THE WIND FROM 180 AT 12 KNOTS GUSTING TO 16. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND RAN OFF THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE GEAR COLLIDED WITH A DITCH AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE CROSSWIND COMPONENT EXCEEDED THE PUBLISHED DEMONSTRATED CROSSWIND CAPABILITY OF THE AIRPLANE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 129 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 43 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,565 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 27, 1989; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N47316 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.