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Accidents · NTSB NYC89LA160 · Final report

Cessna 152 accident near Oneida, New York, July 2, 1989

On July 2, 1989 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N4953B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oneida, New York (Oneida CO. airport). It was a personal 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

LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING DUE TO WIND CHANGE. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD ON THE RUNWAY DUE TO IMPROPER FLARE BY THE PILOT AND A DELAYED RESPONSE TO THE BALLOONING OF THE ACFT.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
July 2, 1989 · about 4:50 pm local time · cases in 1989
Place
Oneida, New York · Oneida CO. · cases near this airport · 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
N4953B · registry record · serial 15283721
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

CESSNA 152 ENCOUNTERED A CHANGE IN DIRECTION OF WIND DURING AN APPROACH TO LAND AT ONEIDA COUNTY AIRPORT AND COLLIDED WITH THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE WIND CHANGE CAUSED HER TO FLARE TOO SOON AND THE AIRCRAFT BALLOONED AND PORPOISED, EVEN THOUGH THE THROTTLE HAD BEEN PUSHED IN, THE RESPONSE WAS TOO LATE TO RECOVER AND MAINTAIN CONTROL.

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: 49 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 9 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 3,459 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, March 24, 1989; 82 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: UCA Utica NY at 2:25 pm
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 33, 6,001 ft by 150 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 280° at 5 knots, gusting 15
  • Visibility: 20 statute miles
  • Sky: not recorded; clear
  • Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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

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The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/NYC89LA160.json.

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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.