Cessna 152 accident near Manistee, Michigan, August 8, 1989
On August 8, 1989 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N96863, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manistee, Michigan (Manistee-Blacker 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 PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER DURING INITIAL CLIMBOUT, AND THE AIRCRAFT'S SUBSEQUENT NOSE OVER DURING THE FORCED LANDING ROLL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 1989 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Manistee, Michigan · Manistee-Blacker · 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
- N96863 · no longer on the register · serial 15286026
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT DURING INITIAL CLIMBOUT, HE HEARD A CHANGE IN THE ENGINE NOISE. THE 'AIRSPEED DECREASED AND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE.' THE STUDENT PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND CAME TO REST INVERTED IN THE FIELD. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL METERING JET FROM THE FLOAT CHAMBER OF THE CARBURETOR WAS BLOCKED BY A LARGE INSECT, RESULTING IN PARTIAL FUEL STARVATION.
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: 99 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 43 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 30, 1989; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Western Michigan University
The flight
- Destination: JXN Jackson MI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from MBL, 1 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.