# Accident 19981214045979A: Cessna 152, Shelbyville, TN, December 14, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 14, 1998, 10:00 local time
- Place: Shelbyville, TN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.4907° N, 86.4394° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4907&lon=-86.4394&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5144B, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5144B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 152 (registry code 2071835, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Reported engine: LYC O235L2C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 51 total, 51 in this make and model, 39 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL99LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA034) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981214045979A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4) THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT, APPROXIMATELY FORTY-FIVE MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED AND SUBSEQUENTLY QUIT. ATTEMPTS BY THE STUDENT PILOT TO RESTORE FULL ENGINE POWER, FAILED. THE STUDENT PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DISCLOSED THAT THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY HAD SHEARED OFF AND, THAT THE ENGINE FIREWALL HAD SUSTAINED IMPACT DAMAGE. THE EXAMINATION ALSO REVEALED THAT A FUEL LINE IN THE VICINITY OF THE CHIN COWLING HAD ALSO RUPTURED AND AN UNKNOWN QUANTITY OF FUEL WAS SPILLED. APPROXIMATELY A QUART OF LIQUID WAS RECOVERED FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM; 90% OF THE LIQUID WAS CLEAR WATER. WATER WAS ALSO DISCOVERED IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL, AND THE FILTER ASSEMBLY. REPORTEDLY THE AIRPLANE WAS REFUELED ABOUT TWO DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, AND SUBSEQUENT TO THE REFUELING, THE AREA EXPERIENCED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. SECURITY OF THE FUEL CAPS AFTER THE REFUELING WAS NOT CONFIRMED. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT CHECKING AND SECURING  THE FUEL CAPS DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL99LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA034), Dec 14, 1998: Cessna 152 (N5144B), Shelbyville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: Water contamination of the fuel supply, resulting from the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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