20031208033089A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 152 · Butler, PA · December 8, 2003

Date: December 8, 2003 · 17:55 local
Place: Butler, PA
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N94820
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC04LA045
Reported as: Cessna 152
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Student
Pilot’s flight hours: 30 total17 in this make and model17 in the last 90 days

N94820Registration cancelled Jun 27, 2013 · Cessna 152S/N 15285794 · Built 1983 Airframe modelCessna 152 Engine modelLycoming 0-235 series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Speaking for his injured son, the father, a certified pilot, said that during cruise flight the aircraft engine began sputtering and then quit operating. The pilot assured the proper positions of the carburetor heat control, the magneto key switch, and the fuel shutoff valve. The pilot re-started the engine but it ran only momentarily before quitting again. After another successful re-start the engine once more only ran briefly and then ceased operation. The engine could not be started at all on the third attempt so the pilot established a glide while contacting pittsburgh departure control to broadcast its emergency situation. During the accident investigation the left tank was found empty while the right tank contained only a minute amount of fuel.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) SPEAKING FOR HIS INJURED SON, THE FATHER, A CERTIFIED PILOT, SAID THAT DURING CRUISE FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE BEGAN SPUTTERING AND THEN QUIT OPERATING. THE PILOT ASSURED THE PROPER POSITIONS OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL, THE MAGNETO KEY SWITCH, AND THE FUEL SHUTOFF VALVE. THE PILOT RE-STARTED THE ENGINE BUT IT RAN ONLY MOMENTARILY BEFORE QUITTING AGAIN. AFTER ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL RE-START THE ENGINE ONCE MORE ONLY RAN BRIEFLY AND THEN CEASED OPERATION. THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE STARTED AT ALL ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT SO THE PILOT ESTABLISHED A GLIDE WHILE CONTACTING PITTSBURGH DEPARTURE CONTROL TO BROADCAST ITS EMERGENCY SITUATION. DURING THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION THE LEFT TANK WAS FOUND EMPTY WHILE THE RIGHT TANK CONTAINED ONLY A MINUTE AMOUNT OF FUEL.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC04LA045Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportButler, PAThe student pilot's improper use of carburetor heat, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. A factor was carburetor icing conditions.Dec 8, 2003 · Substantial damage