Cessna 152 accident near Berrien Springs, Michigan, July 23, 1999
On July 23, 1999 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N95534, was substantially damaged in an accident near Berrien Springs, Michigan (Andrews University Airpar airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure to obtain a proper climb rate and the delayed remedial action by the certified flight instructor. Contributing factors were the uphill terrain and trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1999 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Berrien Springs, Michigan · Andrews University Airpar · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N95534 · no longer on the register · serial 152-85915
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instructional flight impacted terrain during a go-around from runway 21 (2,075 feet by 200 feet, turf). The final approach speed of the airplane was reported by the dual student to be 70 knots. He also reported that the go-around was executed 1/4 down the runway. The certified flight instructor reported, '...we seemed to be in ground effect...'. Upsloping terrain and trees, which were 85 feet in height, were present approximately 1,000 feet from the departure end of the runway. Inspection of the aircraft revealed no anomalies.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 830 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 278 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 733 as pilot in command; 303 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,639 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 7, 1999; 279 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Andrews University
The flight
- Departed from: C20 Berrien Spring MI at 10:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,075 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from BEH, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.