# NTSB ATL05CA045: Cessna 152, N24218, Nashville, TN, January 17, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 17, 2005, 11:57 local (17:57 UTC) - Place: Nashville, TN - Coordinates: 36.116664, -86.666664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1167&lon=-86.6667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Nashville FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 61058 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05CA045 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61058/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA045 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of fuel system blockage. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - fuel system - blocked(total) (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The instructional flight was approximately three miles south of the destination airport at 1600 feet when it was cleared to land on runway 2R. The engine began to lose power and then surged back up. The engine seemed to recover, then the power dropped again. The student pilot applied carburetor heat. The flight instructor took control of the airplane. He checked the carburetor heat and mixture, then pumped the throttle several times. The flight instructor pushed the carburetor heat in the off position and the engine's condition got worse. The engine continued to quit and then surge back up to full power. The flight instructor informed air traffic control that he was losing power and could not hold altitude. The airplane was approximately 1200 feet and the flight instructor knew they would not make it to the runway. The flight instructor selected a bare pasture on a short hilltop for the emergency landing. The instructor brought the airplane in over trees at the south end of the pasture with no power and full flaps. The airplane touched down on the pasture, but the instructor could not stop it before the crest of the hill. The airplane went over the crest and struck a tree with the right wing, spun around 180-degress, collided into more trees and then came to rest. Examination of the airplane revealed the engine mounts broken, nose gear collapsed, both wings damaged and the empennage bent approximately 45-degrees to the left. Further examination of the engine revealed 18 gallons of fuel in the fuel tanks and very little fuel in the fuel lines or the carburetor. There was also no water found in the fuel lines or carburetor bowl. There were no anomalies found during the examination of the engine. At the time of the accident, the temperature was minus 4-degrees Celsius and the dewpoint was minus 16-degrees Celsius. ## Factual narrative On January 17, 2005 at 1157 central standard time, a Cessna 152, N24218, registered to and operated by a private owner, collided with trees during a forced landing following a loss of engine power, two miles south of Nashville International Airport, Nashville, Tennessee. The instructional flight operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The flight instructor received no injuries and the student pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated from Smyrna Airport, Smyrna, Tennessee, on January 17, 2005 at 1150. The instructional flight was approximately three miles south of Nashville International Airport at 1600 feet mean sea level (msl), when it was cleared to land at runway 2R. The engine began to lose power and then surged back up. The engine seemed to recover, then the power dropped again. The student pilot applied carburetor heat and the flight instructor took control of the airplane. He checked the carburetor heat and mixture, then pumped the throttle several times. The flight instructor pushed the carburetor heat in the off position and the engine's condition got worse. The engine continued to quit and then surge back up to full power. The flight instructor informed air traffic control that he was losing power and could not hold altitude. The airplane was approximately 1200 msl and the flight instructor knew they would not make it to the runway. The flight instructor selected a bare pasture on a short hilltop for the emergency landing. The instructor brought the airplane in over trees at the south end of the pasture with no power and full flaps. The airplane touched down on the pasture, but the instructor could not stop it before the crest of the hill. The airplane went over the crest and struck a tree with the right wing, spun around 180-degress, collided into more trees and then came to a rest. Examination of the airplane revealed the engine mounts broken, nose gear collapsed, both wings damaged and the empennage bent approximately 45-degrees to the left. Further examination of the engine revealed 18 gallons of fuel in the fuel tanks and very little fuel in the fuel lines or the carburetor. There was also no water found in the fuel lines or carburetor bowl. There were no anomalies found during the examination of the engine. At the time of the accident, the temperature was minus 4-degrees Celsius and the dewpoint was minus 16-degrees Celsius. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24218](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24218-2006-03-30), registration cancelled 2006-03-30, S/N 15280156, built 1977 (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: 15280156 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: John Gibi, doing business as Airtech Flight School - Registered owner: John Gibi - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: KMQY, Smyrna, TN - Destination: KBNA, Nashville, TN - Airport: KBNA, Nashville International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 57; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 11, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 3,800 total, 300 in this make and model - Student pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 45 total, 35 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 3 °F - Altimeter: 30.72 inHg - Observed at: KBNA ## 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 20050117000689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050117000689A), Jan 17, 2005: Cessna 152, Nashville, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft lost power carb heat applied, power returned. Aircraft again lost power and pilot was not able to regain power or maintain altitude. Selected… ## Other investigations on N24218 (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 CHI79FEI32](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FEI32), Jul 9, 1979: Cessna 152 (N24218), Akron, OH, substantial damage 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.