Cessna 152 accident near Pontiac, Michigan, April 7, 1982
On April 7, 1982 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N66944, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pontiac, Michigan (Oakland-Pontiac Airport). It was an instructional 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 1982 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pontiac, Michigan · Oakland-Pontiac Airport
- 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
- N66944 · no longer on the register · serial 15281679
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS FIFTH TOUCH AND GO PATTERN, THE PLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT AFTER TOUCHDOWN. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR THEN ENCOUNTERED SNOW AND PULLED THE AIRCRAFT FURTHER LEFT INTO A SNOWBANK. THE STUDENT CLAIMED THAT THE OWNERS HAD ADVISED HIM TO APPLY BRAKES AFTER TAKEOFF TO CORRECT A SHIMMY THAT OCCURRED AFTER LIFT-OFF. THE STUDENT BELIEVED THAT THIS CAUSED THE BRAKE TO LOCK. HOWEVER, THE BRAKE WAS NOT LOCKED WHEN THE PLANE WAS REMOVED FROM THE SNOWBANK, AND IT OPERATED NORMALLY WHEN CHECKED. THERE WAS A RIGHT QUARTERING HEADWIND AT 8 KNOTS.
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: student
- Flight time: 27 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 638 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air-One
The flight
- Departed from: PTK Pontiac MI at 11:10 am
- Destination: PTK Pontiac MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27R, 3,250 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 117°F (47°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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 N66944 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.