Cessna 152 accident near Richland, Washington, July 3, 1991
On July 3, 1991 at about 3:18 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N757MA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Richland, Washington (Richland airport). It was an instructional 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
PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE PARKING BRAKE (LOCKING THE RIGHT BRAKE) FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 1991 · about 3:18 am local time
- Place
- Richland, Washington · Richland · 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
- N757MA · no longer on the register · serial 15279838
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS. WHEN THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN FOR THE THIRD LANDING, IT VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND WENT OFF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE THEN NOSED OVER IN SOFT SOIL. A POST-CRASH INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS PARTIALLY SET, WHICH LOCKED THE RIGHT WHEEL. THE STUDENT PILOT INDICATED THAT SHE HAD NOT USED THE PARKING BRAKE AT ANY TIME (BEFORE OR DURING THE FLIGHT).
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 87 hours in all; 87 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days
- 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: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kennewick Aircraft Serv.
The flight
- Departed from: S98 Kennewick WA at 2:50 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 3,999 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
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.