Cessna 152 accident near Pontiac, Michigan, February 2, 1993
On February 2, 1993 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N68155, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pontiac, Michigan (Oakland-Pontiac 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 STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 1993 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Pontiac, Michigan · Oakland-Pontiac · 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
- N68155 · no longer on the register · serial 68155
- 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 ON HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT. AFTER TAKEOFF HE STATED HE THOUGHT HE HAD CONTROL PROBLEMS, AND MADE ONE PATTERN CIRCUIT AND LANDED. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT DURING LANDING ROLLOUT AND HIT A SNOWBANK. WITNESSES REPORTED THE PILOT LANDED LONG AND FAST. THE AIRPLANE WAS EXAMINED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR. ALL FLIGHT CONTROLS OPERATED PROPERLY, AND THE CONTROL SURFACE DEFLECTIONS WERE WITHIN THE LIMITS SPECIFIED IN THE AIRPLANE SERVICE MANUAL.
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: 22 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,291 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 6, 1992; 424 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tradewinds Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 6,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from PTK, 1 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 N68155 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.