Cessna 152 accident near Yates Center, Kansas, October 14, 1989
On October 14, 1989, a Cessna 152, registered N53264, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yates Center, Kansas. It was a personal 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 PILOT'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG DIRECTION TO ATTEMPT A TAKEOFF WHICH RESULTED IN THE INABILITY TO CLIMB SUFFICIENTLY TO AVIOD TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 1989
- Place
- Yates Center, Kansas · 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
- N53264 · registry record · serial 15283522
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LANDED ON A MOWED HAYFIELD BY MISTAKE THINKING IT WAS THE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF, WITH PASSENGER AND LUGGAGE, DOWN WIND, ON THE 1200 FOOT LONG FIELD. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE ACFT'S LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE. THE ACFT SPUN AROUND ABOUT 180 DEGREES AND CRASHED TAIL FIRST INTO A BORDERING RESERVOIR.
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: 85 hours in all; 69 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 74 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kch, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: OJC Olathe KS at 10:30 pm
- Destination: 8K5 Yates Center KS
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Observation at 11:50 pm from CNU, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N53264 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.