Cessna C-152 accident near Troy, Michigan, July 27, 1990
On July 27, 1990 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Cessna C-152, registered N48597, was substantially damaged in an accident near Troy, Michigan (Troy-Oakland 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 SOLO STUDENT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LINEUP WITH RUNWAY CENTERLINE DURING LANDING FLARE AND TOUCHDOWN. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AND THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1990 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Troy, Michigan · Troy-Oakland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-152
- Registration
- N48597 · no longer on the register · serial 15283393
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SOLO STUDENT PILOT ATTEMPTING FULL STOP LANDING STATES AIRPLANE DRIFTED LEFT WITH GUSTING CROSSWIND, TOUCHED DOWN WITH LEFT WHEEL OFF RUNWAY HARD SURFACE. STUDENT STATED RELUCTANCE TO APPLY RIGHT RUDDER TO REDIRECT AIRPLANE. AIRPLANE CONTINUED LEFT INTO GRASS INFIELD WHERE NOSEWHEEL ENGAGED SOD AND AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER TO INVERTED POSITION.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 33 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,216 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 31, 1990; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,855 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N48597 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.