Cessna 152 accident near Hillsdale, Michigan, May 28, 1991
On May 28, 1991 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5299B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hillsdale, Michigan (Hillsdale Muni. airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. A FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT IS THE PILOT'S LACK TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 1991 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hillsdale, Michigan · Hillsdale Muni. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5299B · no longer on the register · serial 15283831
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE NOSED OVER IN SOFT TERRAIN AFTER LOSING CONTROL AND LEAVING THE RUNWAY DURING A TAKEOFF ROLL. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD JUST COMPLETED A ONE HOUR PERIOD OF INSTRUCTION WITH A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND HAD BEEN RELEASED FOR HIS FIRST SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING HIS FIRST SOLO TAKEOFF. ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT PILOT'S STATEMENT, HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT FOR A 'TAILWIND COMING FROM THE SOUTH.' HE WAS STILL TRYING TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE TAKEOFF ROLL WHEN THE AIRPLANE WENT IN TO A PLOWED FIELD AND NOSED OVER.
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: 11 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hillsdale Aero INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,802 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- 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.
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.