Cessna 152 N152DM

Summary

On 15 August 1989 at about 17:35 local time, a Cessna 152 registered N152DM, operated by Southland Aviation, was involved in an accident near Castaic, California, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 August 1989 at 17:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Castaic, California, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 152

Registration

N152DM

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Southland Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pacoima → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX89FA280

1 person died.

FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE THE CONDUCT OF THE FLIGHT, FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO ENSURE ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE PRIOR TO INITIATING THE MANEUVER, AND FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO TAKE TIMELY AND PROPER AND PROPER CORRECTIVE ACTIONS ONCE THE SITUATION WAS FULLY DEVELOPED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

BASED ON THE CFI'S STATEMENT, HE WAS INTRODUCING THE 5 HOUR DUAL PRIMARY STUDENT TO ENGINE FAILURE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. THE CFI SELECTED A PORTION OF THE PRACTICE AREA THAT IS MOUNTAINOUS, WITH RIDGE ELEVATIONS OF ABOUT 3,000 FT MSL, TO BEGIN THE MANEUVER. HE SAID THAT HE REDUCED THE POWER TO IDLE TO SIMULATE AN ENGINE FAILURE AND THE STUDENT RAISED THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT RAPIDLY AND SUDDENLY TO BEYOND THE STALL ATTITUDE. THE CFI SAID HE TOOK OVER AT THAT POINT, APPLIED POWER AND PUSHED THE NOSE OVER TO EFFECT A RECOVERY. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN DURING THE RECOVERY AS IT WAS ACHIEVING A CLIMB ATTITUDE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.