Cessna 152 accident near Marion, Indiana, September 19, 1991
On September 19, 1991 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5463L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marion, Indiana (Marion 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN FROM A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 1991 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Marion, Indiana · Marion · 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
- N5463L · registry record · serial 15284319
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH WHILE THE PILOT WAS MAKING A TOUCH AND GO LANDING DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE SWERVED LEFT, WENT OFF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK THE DITCH AFTER HE APPLIED POWER TO TAKEOFF FROM THE TOUCH AND GO.
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: 26 hours in all; 6 as pilot in command
- 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-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Marion INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,596 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Observation at 1:55 pm from GUS, 23 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 N5463L 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.