Cessna A152 accident near Gobles, Michigan, May 6, 1987
On May 6, 1987 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna A152, registered N761ED, was destroyed in an accident near Gobles, Michigan (Wesler Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- May 6, 1987 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gobles, Michigan · Wesler Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A152 · all A152s on the register
- Registration
- N761ED · no longer on the register · serial A1520942
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE THIRD LEG OF A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE SUN WAS DIRECTLY IN HIS EYES WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO RWY 27. HE STATED HE FIRST SAW THE SET OF POWER LINES WHEN THEY WERE ABOUT 25 FEET AHEAD OF THE AIRCRAFT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DESCEND BELOW THE WIRES, THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE BOTTOM SET OF WIRES. THE PLANE PITCHED DOWN AND IMPACTED ABOUT 75 FEET FROM THE WIRES.
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: 81 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 43 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 24C Lowell MI at 8:12 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,600 ft by 125 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from AZO, 17 miles away
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.