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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

March 6, 1989 · Cessna 152 · N24236

Townsend, DE

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 6, 1989
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Townsend, DE
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N24236
Operator
Ervin S Miller
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
BFO89FA020

THE ACFT WAS OWNED & PILOTED BY A NON-CERTIFICATED PLT WITH TERMINAL CANCER, WHO WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR AN FAA MED CERT. WORKERS SAW THE ACFT TAKEOFF AT APRX 1030 EST. ABOUT 1 HR LATER, A NEARBY RESIDENT HEARD WHAT SHE BELIEVED WAS AN ENG 'MISSING' & WENT 'OUTSIDE,' BUT DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. SHE WENT BACK 'INSIDE' & HEARD A LOUD NOISE (BELIEVED TO BE THE THE ACFT CRASHING). SHE WENT 'OUTSIDE' AGAIN, BUT STILL DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. SOON THEREAFTER, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED WHERE IT HAD CRASHED BESIDE THE APCH END OF RWY 36 AT THE PLT'S PVT STRIP. THERE WAS EVIDENCE IT HAD CRASHED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN, WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE. THE ACFT WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED DRG IMPACT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS FOUND. ABOUT 20 MI SE AT DOVER AFB, THE WX WAS IN PART: 500' SCATTERED, 900' BROKEN, VIS 2 MI WITH FOG & RAIN. FREEZING RAIN & SNW BGN FALLING SHORTLY AFTER THE ACDNT. THE PLT'S BROTHER BELIEVED THE ACFT ICED UP. THE OWNER/PLT WAS SUFFERING FM THE END STAGE OF LARYNX CANCER WITH COMPLICATIONS OF ANEMIA & HEMOPTYSIS.

NTSB Probable Cause

LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL FOR UNKNOWN REASONS.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT WAS OWNED & PILOTED BY A NON-CERTIFICATED PLT WITH TERMINAL CANCER, WHO WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR AN FAA MED CERT. WORKERS SAW THE ACFT TAKEOFF AT APRX 1030 EST. ABOUT 1 HR LATER, A NEARBY RESIDENT HEARD WHAT SHE BELIEVED WAS AN ENG 'MISSING' & WENT 'OUTSIDE,' BUT DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. SHE WENT BACK 'INSIDE' & HEARD A LOUD NOISE (BELIEVED TO BE THE THE ACFT CRASHING). SHE WENT 'OUTSIDE' AGAIN, BUT STILL DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. SOON THEREAFTER, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED WHERE IT HAD CRASHED BESIDE THE APCH END OF RWY 36 AT THE PLT'S PVT STRIP. THERE WAS EVIDENCE IT HAD CRASHED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN, WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE. THE ACFT WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED DRG IMPACT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS FOUND. ABOUT 20 MI SE AT DOVER AFB, THE WX WAS IN PART: 500' SCATTERED, 900' BROKEN, VIS 2 MI WITH FOG & RAIN. FREEZING RAIN & SNW BGN FALLING SHORTLY AFTER THE ACDNT. THE PLT'S BROTHER BELIEVED THE ACFT ICED UP. THE OWNER/PLT WAS SUFFERING FM THE END STAGE OF LARYNX CANCER WITH COMPLICATIONS OF ANEMIA & HEMOPTYSIS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:30 EST
Nearest AirportPVTSTRIP (0nm N)
Runway36
Runway Length1250 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN24236
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorErvin S Miller
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-L2C · Reciprocating · 110
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 57 · None

Conditions

ConditionsUnknown
LightDaylight
Wind40° @ 4 kt
Visibility2 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 900 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time17:20
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data