# NTSB ATL02LA176: Cessna 152, N46656, Spring City, TN, September 24, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 24, 2002, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Spring City, TN - Coordinates: 35.666667, -84.866668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6667&lon=-84.8667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Nashville FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55795 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55795/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55795 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA176 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to follow standard training procedures that resulted in the loss of engine power during a simulated loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fuel system,fuel shutoff - switched off (cause) - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Ditching, emergency landing - terrain condition - water ## Analysis While flying at 2500 feet, the certified flight instructor turned the fuel selector to the off position to simulate a loss of engine power. The certified flight instructor's attempts to restore engine power failed, and he elected to ditch the airplane in a lake. Upon contact with the water, the airplane flipped violently and sank in 40 to 60 feet of water. The airplane was not recovered. ## Factual narrative On September 24, 2002, at 1130 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N46656, registered to and operated by Middle Tennessee State University, ditched into Watts Bar Lake near Spring City, Tennessee, during a simulated loss of engine power. The instructional flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the certified flight instructor and the private pilot were not injured. The flight departed Knoxville, Tennessee, at 1100, on September 24, 2002. While conducting an instructional flight and flying at 2500 feet, the certified flight instructor turned the fuel selector to the off position to simulate a loss of engine power. The certified flight instructor's attempts to restore engine power failed, and he elected to ditch the airplane in Watts Bar Lake. Upon contact with the water, the airplane flipped violently and sank in 40 to 60 feet of water. After the certified flight instructor and the student pilot exited the airplane, both were rescued by a seaman in a boat. The Middle Tennessee State University Cessna 152 Standardization Manual states that the instructor may simulate an engine failure by reducing the throttle to idle. The Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3) concurs with this procedure and notes that the flight instructor should simulate an emergency landing by retarding the throttle and calling "simulated emergency landing". The Airplane Flying Handbook also states that "during all simulated emergency landings, the engine should be kept warm and clear". The airplane was not recovered for examination. The certified flight instructor did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane before the simulated loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46656](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46656-2005-05-03), registration cancelled 2005-05-03, S/N 15283086, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15283086 - Airframe hours: 10848 - Engines: Lycoming O-235--L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Middle Tennessee State University - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 12, 2002 - Departed: TYS, Knoxville, TN - Destination: MBT, Murfreesboro, TN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 21; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 12, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 325 total, 142 in this make and model, 245 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 21; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC) - Wind: 20° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: CHA, 44 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020924028439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020924028439A), Sep 24, 2002: Cessna 152, Springcity, TN, Destroyed. (-23) Flight instructor and private pilot working on commercial certificate on a cross-country flight from knoxville (tys) to murfreesboro (mbt), TN initiated… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 6, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55795. 795 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 477 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442261&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Cessna 152 Standardization Manual (Excerpts) (item 2, .PDF, 190 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40188148&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cessna%20152%20Standardization%20Manual%20(Excerpts)-Master.PDF - Student Pilot Statement (item 3, .PDF, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40188150&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.