Cessna 152 accident near Alpena, Michigan, March 7, 1990
On March 7, 1990 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N48690, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alpena, Michigan (Phelps Collins 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
STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN POSITIVE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. THE STUDENT PILOT'S LACK OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 7, 1990 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Alpena, Michigan · Phelps Collins · 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
- N48690 · registry record · serial 15280929
- 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 HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL; THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND IMPACTED A PLOWED RIDGE OF SNOW AND ICE. THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 32.2 HOURS (ALL IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT, INCLUDING 1.4 HOURS OF SOLO FLIGHT TIME).
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: 32 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,675 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 25, 1990; 50 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: APN Alpena MI at 8:15 pm
- Destination: APN Alpena MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 9,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from APN
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.