Cessna 152 II accident near Lee'S Summit, Missouri, October 17, 1991
On October 17, 1991 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Cessna 152 II, registered N4712B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lee'S Summit, Missouri (Lee'S Summit 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. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE STUDENT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, IMPROPER TOUCH AND GO PROCEDURES, AND DIVERTED ATTENTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 17, 1991 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lee'S Summit, Missouri · Lee'S Summit · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 II · all 152 IIs on the register
- Registration
- N4712B · no longer on the register · serial 15283592
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO OPERATIONS. HE MADE SEVERAL SATISFACTORY LANDINGS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE STATED THAT AS THE AIRPLANE ACCELERATED DURING THE TAKEOFF PORTION OF THE LAST TOUCH AND GO, IT BECAME DIRECTIONALLY UNSTABLE. HE THEN REALIZED HE HAD NOT RETRACTED THE FLAPS WHEN HE ADDED POWER FOR THE TAKEOFF. THE STUDENT PILOT RETRACTED FLAPS, RETARDED THE THROTTLE AND ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, HIT AND EMBANKMENT 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: 23 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,844 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 11, 1991; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tri-Air Flight School
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°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.