Cessna 152 accident near Sullivan, Indiana, April 6, 1993
On April 6, 1993 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N89098, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sullivan, Indiana (Sullivan County 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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 1993 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Sullivan, Indiana · Sullivan County · 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
- N89098 · registry record · serial 15282630
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT DURING A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING,HE TOUCHED DOWN, RETRACTED THE FLAPS, REMOVED CARBURETOR HEAT AND APPLIED FULL POWER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN AN UNCONTROLLED LEFT TURN AS IT REACHED ROTATIONAL SPEED. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY HIS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WHO WAS WATCHING THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY EDGE AND CAME TO REST EAST OF THE RUNWAY'S TAXIWAY. THE PILOT WAS ASKED IF HE HAD RECEIVED TRAINING IN ABORTED TAKEOFFS; HE STATED HE COULD NOT RECALL. HIS LOGBOOK RECORD DID NOT HAVE ENTRIES TO INDICATE SUCH TRAINING. THE STUDENT'S INSTRUCTOR WAS ASKED IF HE TAUGHT ABORTED TAKEOFFS AT OR BELOW ROTATION SPEED. HE STATED HE DID NOT BECAUSE IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS.
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: 28 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gpm Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SIV at 11:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,559 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:48 pm from HUF, 21 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.
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.