# Accident 20011122031099A: Cessna 152, New Braunfels, TX, November 22, 2001 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: November 22, 2001, 15:45 local time - Place: New Braunfels, TX - Airport: New Braunfels Municipal Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 29.7006° N, 98.1094° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7006&lon=-98.1094&mi=10 - Aircraft: N48941, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48941) (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 flight hours: 103 total, 8 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW02LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA042) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011122031099A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON NOVEMBER 22, 2001, AT 1545 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 152 SINGLE-ENGINE AIRPLANE, N48941, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT NEAR NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS. THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL AND WAS OPERATED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT CENTER OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. THE STUDENT PILOT, SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED FOR THE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM ADDISON, TEXAS, AT 1245. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THE STUDENT PILOT FLEW FROM SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, TO ADDISON, TEXAS, IN THE MORNING ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT REFUELED THE AIRPLANE WITH 18 GALLONS OF AVGAS AND DEPARTED FOR HIS RETURN TRIP TO SAN ANTONIO. WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 4,500 FEET, THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER AND WAS THEN OPERATING AT 1,500 RPM. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND AT THE NEW BRAUNFELS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, AND TROUBLESHOT THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER BY ADJUSTING THE MIXTURE AND TURNING ON THE CARBURETOR HEAT. THE STUDENT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE PILOT DID NOT THINK HE WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE AIRPORT, SO HE ELECTED TO LAND IN A FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE NOSE LANDING GEAR CONTACTED A RUT IN THE FIELD, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THEY FOUND "PLENTY OF FUEL ONBOARD THE AIRPLANE." THE FAA INSPECTOR, WHO RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT SITE, STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S VERTICAL STABILIZER WAS BENT TO ONE SIDE AND THE NOSE LANDING GEAR WAS DAMAGED. (.4) THE PILOT WAS FLYING THE AIRPLANE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 4,500 FEET, WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND LOST PARTIAL POWER. THE PILOT ELECTED TO DIVERT TO A NEARBY AIRPORT AND TROUBLESHOT THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER BY ADJUSTING THE MIXTURE AND TURNING ON THE CARBURETOR HEAT. HE REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER; HOWEVER, IT LOST TOTAL POWER SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE PILOT DID NOT THINK HE WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE AIRPORT, SO HE ELECTED TO LAND IN A FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE NOSE LANDING GEAR CONTACTED A RUT IN THE FIELD, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THEY FOUND "PLENTY OF FUEL ONBOARD THE AIRPLA NE." A MECHANIC, WHO EXAMINED THE ENGINE AFTER THE ACCIDENT, REPORTED NO ANOMALIES WITH THE ENGINE. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE TEMPERATURE WAS REPORTED AS 22 DEGREES CELSIUS (72 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT), AND THE DEW POINT AS 14 DEGREES CELSIUS (57 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT). REVIEW OF CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS REVEALED THAT WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT, THE CONDITIONS EXISTED FOR "MODERATE ICING [AT] CRUISE POWER OR SERIOUS ICING [AT] GLIDE POWER." (-23) ON NOVEMBER 22, 2001, A CESSNA 152-152, N48941, PILOT WAS ENROUTE FROM ADDISON, TX AIRPORT TO SAN ANTONIO, TX AIRPORT. AFTER PASSING THE NEW BRAUNFELS AIRPORT, THE PILOT REPORTED A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND AT NEW BRAUNFELS, TX AIRPORT, BUT LANDED ABOUT 3 MILES SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT. AFTER LANDING ON A RANCH FIELD, THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER AND SUSTAINED SEVERE AILERON AND RUDDER DAMAGE, DAMAGE TO THE NOSE AND MAIN GEAR. ALSO WRINKLED WAS THE TOP AND BOTTOM WING SKIN. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR SCRATCHES AND BRUISES. THE ENGINE WAS INSPECTED BY A CERTIFICATED MECHANIC AND ALL INDICATIONS POINT TO CARBURETOR ICING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS MOVED TO TH E OWNER'S PROPERTY AND WILL BE SCRAPPED. THIS OFFICE IS UNABLE TO CONTACT MR. MEDINA (PILOT). APPARENTLY, HE HAS RETURNED TO MEXICO. THIS OFFICE CONSIDERS THIS ACCIDENT CLOSED. ## 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 FTW02LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA042), Nov 22, 2001: Cessna 152 (N48941), New Braunfels, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: the loss of engine power due to carburetor icing conditions while in cruise flight. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the ensuing forced landing. ## Other reports on N48941 (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19840603039389I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840603039389I), Jun 3, 1984: Cessna 152 (N48941), Ft Worth, TX, Minor damage. Unable to shut down engine after parking. Got out to get help. Aircraft hit another aircraft. Did not set brake. - [Incident 19800220030369I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800220030369I), Feb 20, 1980: Cessna 152 (N48941), Coahoma, TX, Minor damage. Pilot became disoriented on long cross-country & unforecast sandstorm. Fuel low, landed in plowed field. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.