Cessna 152 accident near Delta, Utah, May 19, 1990
On May 19, 1990 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N6392Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delta, Utah (Delta airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING. FACTORS WERE GUSTING TAILWINDS AND THE PILOT SELECTED THE WRONG RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 1990 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Delta, Utah · Delta · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N6392Q · no longer on the register · serial 15285241
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT SELECTED THE WRONG RUNWAY AND ATTEMPTED A DOWNWIND LANDING WITH A STRONG QUARTERING TAILWIND. AT LANDING FLARE, THE PLANE TURNED TO THE RIGHT, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL AND THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN RIGHT OF THE CENTERLINE, DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT BECAME AWARE OF THE TAILWIND AFTER EXITING THE WRECKAGE.
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; 12 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ 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: Central Utah Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: PVO Provo UT at 3:15 pm
- Destination: MLF Milford UT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 30, 5,935 ft by 85 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°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.
Other NTSB records under N6392Q 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.