Cessna 152 accident near Ypsilanti, Michigan, January 2, 1982
On January 2, 1982 at about 6:22 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N68812, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ypsilanti, Michigan (Willow Run 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
- January 2, 1982 · about 6:22 pm local time
- Place
- Ypsilanti, Michigan · Willow Run · 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
- N68812 · registry record · serial 15285339
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF FROM A HARD PACKED SNOW AND ICY RUNWAY THE AIRCRAFT VEERED LEFT INTO A SNOWBANK OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE TAKEOFF ROLL HE HAD FULL DEFLECTION OF THE LEFT AILERON AND WAS ANTICIPATING WITH RIGHT RUDDER TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT TAKEOFF ROLL. AFTER REALIZING THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT TO STRIKE THE SNOWBANK THE STUDENT RETARDED THE POWER.
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: 74 hours in all; 74 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 16 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 70 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sky Trak, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: YIP Ypsilanti MI at 1:20 pm
- Destination: YIP Ypsilanti MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 6,910 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- 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.
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.