Cessna 152 accident near Garrett, Indiana, February 21, 1990
On February 21, 1990 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N757RN, was substantially damaged in an accident near Garrett, Indiana (Shenk 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 FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND SWERVE. THE CROSSWIND AND SOFT RUNWAY WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 1990 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Garrett, Indiana · Shenk · 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
- N757RN · registry record · serial 15279945
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT JUST AFTER THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE DAMP, TURF RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE AND ONTO A NEWLY PLOWED FIELD. WHEN THE NOSE GEAR CONTACTED THE SOFT FURROWS, IT COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD LANDED ON THE SAME RUNWAY THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT WITHOUT ANY DIFFICULTY, BUT ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, THE RUNWAY WAS SOFTER AND THE WINDS WERE STRONGER. HE WAS LANDING WITH A DIRECT RIGHT CROSSWIND AT TEN KNOTS WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS APPROVED FOR REPEATED SOLO CROSS-COUNTRIES BETWEEN THE AIRCRAFT'S HOME BASE AND THE ACCIDENT AIRPORT (APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES WEST) FOR PURPOSE OF AIRCRAFT REFUELING. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD 49 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT TIME, INCLUDING 39 HOURS IN THE ACCIDENT MAKE AND MODEL AIRCRAFT AND 15 HOURS OF SOLO FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
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: 49 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,854 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 1990; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sunrise Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 07C Auburn IN at 5:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,050 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from FWA, 19 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.