On September 10, 1990, a Cessna A152 (registration N4649A) operated by Double Eagle Aviation Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Tucson, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO RECOVER FROM A SPIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THERE WAS ADEQUATE ALTITUDE TO RECOVER FROM AN INADVERTENT OR INTENTIONAL SPIN, AND HIS LACK OF RECENT EXPEREINCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A private pilot with 218 hours and a friend departed in an aerobatic Cessna A152 with parachutes. The aircraft was found two days later after impacting the ground in a steep nose-down attitude with evidence of rotation.
Accident Overview
A 218-hour private pilot and a friend departed from an airport in an aerobatic Cessna A152 equipped with parachutes. They proceeded to the west practice area, where radar recorded the aircraft maneuvering. The aircraft failed to return to the airport and was located two days later in the west practice area.
Wreckage Examination
An examination of the wreckage revealed that the aircraft impacted the ground in about a 75-degree nose-down attitude. There was evidence that the aircraft was rotating about the vertical axis at the time of impact. No preimpact part failure or malfunction of the aircraft or engine was found during the investigation.
Pilot Background
The pilot had previously received about 15 hours of aerobatic instruction in a Bellanca 7GCA and less than an hour in a Cessna 152. No record was found that he had performed aerobatic flight since completing the training about four months before the accident.
What happened in the 10 Sept 1990 Cessna A152 accident near Tucson, AZ?
A private pilot with 218 hours and a friend departed in an aerobatic Cessna A152 with parachutes. The aircraft was found two days later after impacting the ground in a steep nose-down attitude with evidence of rotation.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 10 Sept 1990 involved a Cessna A152, registration N4649A, operated by Double Eagle Aviation Inc., at Tucson, AZ.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO RECOVER FROM A SPIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THERE WAS ADEQUATE ALTITUDE TO RECOVER FROM AN INADVERTENT OR INTENTIONAL SPIN, AND HIS LACK OF RECENT EXPEREINCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION.
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