Cessna 152 accident near Chandler, Arizona, March 19, 1993
On March 19, 1993 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N89681, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chandler, Arizona (Chandler 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 STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND HIS IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE STUDENT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 1993 · about 6:50 pm local time · cases in 1993
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · Chandler Municipal · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N89681 · registry record · serial 15282824
- 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 PRACTICING SOLO TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. DURING THE FINAL LANDING, THE PILOT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND EXITED THE RUNWAY. ACCORDING TO THE FBO'S CHIEF FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, THE STUDENT APPLIED FULL POWER AS THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT MOMENTARILY BECAME AIRBORNE. THE AIRCRAFT REPORTEDLY BANKED TO THE LEFT, THE WING TIP CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT CARTWHEELED THROUGH AN AIRPORT BOUNDARY FENCE.
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: 39 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,250 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 4, 1993; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Button Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: P10 at 6:00 pm
- Destination: P10
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 4,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from IWA, 7 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N89681 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 152 1,636 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,682 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C 84 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Polacca Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,985 since 1982 · 468 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,431 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX93LA155.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.