Cessna 152 accident near Tribune, Kansas, March 31, 1987
On March 31, 1987 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N89547, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tribune, Kansas. It was an aerial observation 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 1987 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tribune, Kansas · 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
- N89547 · no longer on the register · serial 15282780
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS SPOTTING STRAY CATTLE AFTER A SNOW BLIZZARD MOVED THROUGH THE REGION. TWO HOURS INTO THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT FURTHER STATED, HE REDUCED ENGINE POWER FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS--WITHOUT CARBURETOR HEAT. THE ENGINE THEN SPUTTERED AND STOPPED WHEN POWER WAS RE-APPLIED. AFTER TWO UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO LAND IN A FIELD OF WHEAT STUBBLE THAT WAS COVERED WITH 3 INCHES OF MUDDY SNOW. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER UPON TOUCHDOWN. A POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED NO AIRFRAME OR POWERPLANT MALFUNCTIONS.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 280 hours in all; 280 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 246 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,319 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 18, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Tribune KS at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from GCK, 44 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.