Cessna 152 accident near Ardmore, Oklahoma, September 9, 1989
On September 9, 1989 at about 6:05 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5316U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ardmore, Oklahoma (Ardmore Municipal 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 CONTROL DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO AROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 1989 · about 6:05 pm local time
- Place
- Ardmore, Oklahoma · Ardmore Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5316U · no longer on the register · serial 15285099
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT, DURING THE LANDING FLARE, THE AIRCRAFT NOSE VEERED LEFT, AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST. HE ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO FLARE TOO HIGH. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ADDED FULL POWER, RETRACTED THE FLAPS 10 DEGREES, AND THE NOSE FELL. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET WEST OF THE LANDING RUNWAY. THE PILOT WAS UTILIZING RUNWAY 35 AND REPORTED THE WINDS TO BE FROM THE SOUTHWEST AT 12 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 18 KNOTS.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 33 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 9 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,128 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 4, 1989; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Holt Aero, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: FTW Fort Worth TX at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 35, 6,879 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:06 pm from ADM
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 N5316U 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.