20080705841119A

(-23) On July 5, 2008, at 1422 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N5372B, operated by air venture flight center, was destroyed following a steep descent and collision with terrain after departing cruise flight near Rossville, Tennessee. The certificated airline transport pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at olive branch airport (olv), olive branch, Mississippi, at 1339. No flight plan was filed for the local flight that was conducted under the provisions of 14 code of federal regulations part 91. A canvas of the rural neighborhood that surrounded the accident site, conducted by law enforcement personnel, did not reveal any witnesses to the crash. Preliminary radar data from the federal aviation administration (FAA), for the last minute of flight, revealed a target that was identified as the accident airplane in cruise flight about 2,400 feet, on an approximate heading of 020 degrees magnetic. The last three radar returns depicted the airplane in a descending left turn as follows: at 1422:19, 2,400 feet, at 1422:28, 2,200 feet, and at 1422:33, at 1700 feet. The air traffic controller stated that he heard a "mayday" call on the radio, but received no reply. A review of voice recordings revealed that the pilot transmitted the airplane's registration number then a "mayday" three times before voice communication was lost. The airplane was examined at the site on July 6, 2008. There was evidence of fuel present, and all major components were accounted for at the scene. The airplane came to rest upright in a flat, grassy meadow. The wreckage path was oriented along a line of 230 degrees magnetic, and was approximately 250 feet long (all references to debris path measurements are approximations). The cabin floor, seats, cockpit controls, instrument panel, empennage, and tail section were completely destroyed by impact, and located 63 feet down the wreckage path. The rudder and elevators were destroyed by impact, but remained connected to the main wreckage by cables. The only recognizable instrument from the panel was the tachometer, and the needle was pressed against the instrument face bezel at the 3,100-RPM marking. At 1350, the weather reported at olv, about 12 miles southwest of the site, included scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, and winds from 180 degrees at 4 knots. The visibility was 10 miles. The temperature was 28 degrees celsius and the dew point was 23 degrees celsius.