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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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April 21, 2003 · Cessna 152 · N93564

Red Owl, SD

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 21, 2003
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Red Owl, SD
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N93564
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI03LA109

Witnesses described the airplane departing a private airstrip, enter a turn and then suddenly descend to the ground in a nose-down/tail-up attitude. The student pilot reported that he had no memory of the accident flight. The pilot's last 90-day solo endorsement was on September 20, 2002. He reported his total flight time as 125.4 hours, of which 112.7 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. No anomalies were found with the airframe or the engine that could be associated with any pre-impact condition.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot not maintaining aircraft control during initial climb-out, resulting in the encountered stall.

Full Narrative

On April 20, 2003, at 2044 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 152, N93564, owned and piloted by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with terrain near Red Owl, South Dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The local flight originated from the pilot's private airstrip near Red Owl, South Dakota, at an unconfirmed time. The student pilot reported that he has no memory of the accident flight. He stated that his daughters witnessed his airplane takeoff from his private airstrip, enter a turn and then suddenly descend to the ground. According to an inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration, the witnesses described the tail of the airplane pointed up and the nose of the airplane pointed down prior to the impact with the terrain. The student pilot's last 90-day solo endorsement was on September 20, 2002. The pilot reported his total flight time as 125.4 hours, of which 112.7 hours were in the Cessna 152. No anomalies were found with the airframe or the engine that could be associated with any pre-impact condition.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:44 MDT
Nearest AirportPrivate Airstrip (0nm E)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN93564
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-L2C · Reciprocating · 110
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 45 · Third Class · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind330° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point48 / 37 C
Altimeter30.11 inHg
Observation Time02:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data