Aviation Crash Map

Cessna 152 N24431

26 October 1991 · Valkaria, Florida, United States · Serious injuries

Summary

On 26 October 1991 at about 23:59 local time, a Cessna 152 registered N24431, operated by Silver Express, was involved in an accident near Valkaria, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 23:59
Classification
Accident
Location
Valkaria, Florida, United States
Coordinates
28.0304, -80.6004
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Registration
N24431
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Silver Express
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Business
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Valkaria → Vero Beach
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
VMC
Light
Night/Dark
NTSB number
MIA92FA017

People

1 person was seriously injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 1 0 0

Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE WHILE MANEUVERING. THIS RESULTED IN THE PILOT BECOMING SPATIALLY DISORIENTED AND AN IN-FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO OPERATE THE AIRPLANE WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT DEPARTED VFR AT NIGHT WITH KNOWN EQUIPMENT DEFICIENCIES (INOPERATIVE LANDING AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS). WITNESSES REPORTED BROKEN SKY CONDITION WITH LOW LEVEL OF AMBIENT LIGHT AND NO VISIBLE HORIZON. THE PILOT STATED AFTER TAKEOFF HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN VISUAL REFERENCE WITH ANOTHER AIRPLANE THAT DEPARTED AHEAD OF HIM, WHEN HE BECAME SPATIALLY DISORIENTED. THIS RESULTED IN AN UNNOTICED LOSS OF ALTITUDE IN A TURN AND AN IN-FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Cessna 152 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
4 Jul 1991 Cessna 152
N69061
Rutland, Vermont, United States
no coordinates
Alpine Aviation No injuries -
11 May 1991 Cessna 152
N69101
Pontiac, Michigan, United States Kitze Avaition, Inc. No injuries -
17 Jan 1991 Cessna 152
N65418
Miami, Florida, United States Silver Express, Inc. No injuries -
17 Jul 1991 Cessna 152
N6489B
Springwater, New York, United States State Aerial Farm Statistics No injuries -
18 Feb 1991 Cessna 152
N24913
St. Cloud, Florida, United States
no coordinates
Brown's Seaplane Base, Inc. No injuries -
17 Oct 1991 Cessna 152 II
N4712B
Lee's Summit, Missouri, United States Tri-Air Flight School No injuries -

All 3,030 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
2 Jan 1991 Hughes 269C
N9574F
Deland, Florida, United States Maverick Helicopters, Inc. No injuries -
9 Jan 1991 Cessna 182N
N69UU
La Belle, Florida, United States Smith, Gregory H. Serious injuries -
11 Jan 1991 Cessna 175
N7293M
Okeechobee, Florida, United States Davia, Samuel J. JR. No injuries -
16 Jan 1991 Cessna 172N
N215ER
New Smyrna Bch, Florida, United States Embry-Riddle Aero. Univ., Inc. No injuries -
19 Jan 1991 Piper PA-31-350
N27759
Orlando, Florida, United States Top Flight Air Service, Inc. No injuries -
25 Jan 1991 Piper PA-31-B-310
N31HL
Fernandina Bch, Florida, United States Island Aviation Services, Inc. Minor injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States