Cessna 152 accident near Kokomo, Indiana, November 20, 1989
On November 20, 1989 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N757UV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kokomo, Indiana (Kokomo-Glendale 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 STUDENT PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE STUDENT'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI), THE STUDENT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN WEATHER INFORMATION (USE A PREFLIGHT BRIEFING SERVICE) BEFORE THE FLIGHT, AND THE ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 1989 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Kokomo, Indiana · Kokomo-Glendale · 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
- N757UV · no longer on the register · serial 15280022
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PREPARING FOR HIS 4TH SOLO FLT TO PRACTICE TAKEOFFS & LNDGS, THE STUDENT PLT NOTED A WIND FROM THE SW. DURING THE ROLL-OUT FROM HIS 2ND LANDING ON RWY 18, THE ACFT ENCTRD A GUST OF WIND FROM THE RIGHT & BECAME AIRBORNE. THE STUDENT TRIED TO CORRECT THE SITUATION, BUT THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD & THE NOSE GEAR DUG INTO THE TURF RWY & COLLAPSED. ABOUT 14 MI NORTH AT GRISSOM AFB, THE 0955 EST WIND WAS FROM 280 DEG AT 19 GUSTING 24 KTS. THE STUDENT'S INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) STATED 'IT WAS TOO WINDY FOR (THE) STUDENT. THE CFI ALSO RPRTD THAT HE DID NOT KNOW THE STUDENT HAD INITIATED THE SOLO FLT BECAUSE HE (THE CFI) WAS FLYING WITH ANOTHER STUDENT. THE CFI HAD NOT ENTERED ANY WIND RESTRICTIONS IN THE STUDENT PLT'S LOG BOOK, THOUGH HE NOTED THE STUDENT SHOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN OFF WITH MORE THAN A 10 MPH WIND OR A 5 MPH X-WIND.
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: 17 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,580 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 10, 1989; 80 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: 8I3 at 2:15 pm
- Destination: 8I3
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,048 ft by 110 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 19 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from GUS, 14 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.
Other NTSB records under N757UV the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.