Cessna 152 accident near Tucson, AZ
On February 8, 2013, a Cessna 152 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Tucson, AZ. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- February 8, 2013
- Place
- Tucson, AZ
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 32.123°N, 111.198°W
- NTSB ID
- 20130208X43909
Official records · WPR13FA118
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- ATC Transcripts: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- KRYN ATCT Transcript: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- TUS ATCT Recording: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- RYN ATCT Recording: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC Radar Flight Track: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn February 8, 2013 about 0930 mountain standard time, after the Cessna 152, N89059, airplane was established on a right downwind leg for runway 6R at Ryan Field (RYN), Tucson, Arizona, radio and visual contact was lost by the air traffic control tower (ATCT) controller. The airplane, which impacted terrain about 1.5 miles southwest of RYN, was substantially damaged, and the private pilot received fatal injuries. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight plan was filed for the flight. The 75-year-old pilot rented the airplane from Arizona Aero-Tech (AAT), located at Tucson International Airport (TUS), Tucson, with the stated intent of practicing landings and takeoffs at RYN. RYN was located about 11 miles west of TUS. Although the airplane reportedly had sufficient fuel for the flight, the pilot decided to have the fuel tanks filled; a total of 15.2 gallons were added before the flight. The pilot was observed to sump the tanks both before and after the airplane was fueled. He was also observed to seat himself in, and start the airplane from, the right seat. The airplane departed from TUS runway 11R about 0923, and was approved for an early turnout on-course. FAA ATC tracking radar data showed that the airplane flew towards RYN from TUS, at a maximum indicated altitude of 4,300 feet. The pilot contacted the RYN ATCT and, as instructed, entered a right downwind leg for runway 6R. Visual and radio contact
Probable cause
The pilot's incapacitation due to his preexisting cardiac disease, which resulted in his degraded or complete loss of ability to control the airplane.
More accidents in AZ
- De Havilland DHC-6-300, Sep 27, 1989
- Cessna 402C, Jun 19, 1992
- Piper PA-31-350, Aug 17, 1983
- Piper PA-31-350, Feb 13, 1995
- Cessna 421C, Sep 2, 1995
Browse: Arizona · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
