Cessna 152 accident near Mitchellville, Maryland, December 7, 1990
On December 7, 1990 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N68243, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mitchellville, Maryland (Freeway airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE PILOT(S) AND IN-FLIGHT OPENING OF THE DOOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 7, 1990 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mitchellville, Maryland · Freeway · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N68243 · no longer on the register · serial 15282206
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT WERE PRACTICING LANDINGS, WHEN THE STUDENT WAS INSTRUCTED TO MAKE A GO-AROUND. DURING THE GO-AROUND, THE STUDENT'S DOOR CAME OPEN. ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTOR, THE STUDENT PANICKED AND TURNED THE CONTROL WHEEL TO THE LEFT, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO TURN LEFT AND TOUCH DOWN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. SUBSEQUENLTY, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK VASI LIGHTS AND A PARKED AIRCRAFT.
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: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,398 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 13, 1990; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Freeway Airport, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,400 ft by 30 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 12,000 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from DCA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
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.