Cessna 152 accident near Warrensburg, Missouri, May 18, 1989
On May 18, 1989 at about 6:35 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N24984, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warrensburg, Missouri (Sky Haven 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
THE FAILURE OF THE CFI TO VISUALLY ACQUIRE AND MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM POWER LINES, WHICH THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY CONTACTED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 1989 · about 6:35 pm local time
- Place
- Warrensburg, Missouri · Sky Haven · 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
- N24984 · no longer on the register · serial 15280493
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE TEACHING A STUDENT PILOT EMERGENCY LANDING PROCEDURES, THE CFI EXECUTED A GO-AROUND NEAR THE TERRAIN. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, BUT WAS ABLE TO SAY ALOFT AND CONTINUE BACK TO THE HOME AIRPORT FOR AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING. DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE WINDSHIELD, BOTH LANDING GEAR FAIRINGS, THE RIGHT AILERON, AND THE HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL STABILIZERS.
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 multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 650 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 1,135 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,863 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 26, 1989; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9K4 Warrensburg MO at 5:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.