Cessna 152 accident near New Hudson, Michigan, November 7, 1987
On November 7, 1987 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N46065, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Hudson, Michigan (New Hudson 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
- November 7, 1987 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- New Hudson, Michigan · New Hudson · 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
- N46065 · no longer on the register · serial 15282992
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT. BEFORE TURNING ONTO FINAL APPROACH TO LAND, HE NOTICED ANOTHER AIRCRAFT AHEAD, ALREADY ON FINAL APPROACH. THE STUDENT DECIDED TO S-TURN FOR SPACING, BUT WHILE MANEUVERING, ALTITUDE WAS LOST. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE SAW TREES AHEAD, APPLIED POWER & INITIATED A CLIMB ATTITUDE TO CLEAR THE TREES. HOWEVER, THE LANDING GEAR HIT A TREE BRANCH & SUBSEQUENTLY THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ABOUT 100' FROM THE RUNWAY.
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: 13 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y45 at 4:55 pm
- Destination: Y45
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,015 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 30,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:42 pm from DET, 20 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.