Cessna 152 accident near Flint, Michigan, May 6, 1989
On May 6, 1989 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N25054, was substantially damaged in an accident near Flint, Michigan. 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 PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURES AND DIRECTIVES AND HIS PREMATURE DECISION TO INITIATE AN EMERGENCY PROCEDURE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AND HIS SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE EMERGENCY LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 1989 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Flint, Michigan · 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
- N25054 · no longer on the register · serial 15280518
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON AN INSTRUCTIONAL SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS. THE STUDENT ELECTED TO SELECT 'IDLE-SHUTOFF' AND CONDUCT AN EMERGENCY LANDING. DURING THE LANDING ROLL IN A CULTIVATED FIELD, THE NOSEWHEEL DUG INTO SOFT DIRT AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, HOWEVER THE PILOT REPORTED NO INJURIES. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NOTHING THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED NORMAL OPERATION. SURFACE TEMPERATURE FIVE MILES AWAY, AND THIRTY THREE MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT, WAS 48 DEGREES F AND THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY WAS CALCULATED AS 54% VISIBLE MOISTURE IN THE FORM OF CLOUDS, DESCRIBED AS 5,000 FEET SCATTERED AND 8,000 FEET OVERCAST, AS OBSERVED.
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: 60 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,146 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 18, 1989; 37 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: PTK Pontiac MI at 5:00 pm
- Destination: FNT Flint MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 14 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from FNT, 5 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.