# NTSB ATL93LA093: Cessna 152, N6231B, Grandview, TN, May 16, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 16, 1993, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Grandview, TN - Coordinates: 35.739402, -84.830429 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7394&lon=-84.8304&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3211 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL93LA093 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3211/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA093 ## Probable cause FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT BATTERY. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal - electrical system,battery - failure,total (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - object - fence - object - pole ## Analysis DURING THE RETURN LEG OF A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT OBSERVED LOWER THAN EXPECTED FUEL QUANTITY READINGS, AND SUSPECTED A FUEL LEAK OR EXCESSIVE FUEL BURN. HE WAS ALSO OBSERVING SIGNS OF ELECTRICAL FAILURE. HE ELECTED TO PERFORM A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A RURAL ROAD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, HE MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE RIGHT WING COLLIDED WITH A POLE, A FENCE, AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT 3 SPARK PLUG LEADS WERE LOOSE, AND A FOURTH WAS DISCONNECTED. THE FUEL TANKS WERE 1/2 TO 3/4 FULL. THE AIRCRAFT ALTERNATOR WAS OPERATIVE, HOWEVER THE BATTERY WAS DISCHARGED. ## Factual narrative On May 16, 1993, at about 1730 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N6231B, collided with a telephone pole and a fence during a precautionary landing near Grandview, Tennessee. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The student pilot was not injured. The aircraft was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by Hangar C Aviation of Meridianville, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the solo, instructional flight. The flight departed Mark Anton Airport in Dayton, Tennessee at about 1500 central daylight time. The pilot reported the following: He was performing a solo cross country flight. He fueled the aircraft at Dayton, and proceeded to Rockwood, Tennessee as an intermediate stop. He elected not to land at Rockwood due to hazy weather conditions. After circling the airport for about 7 minutes, he elected to return to Meridianville, Alabama, where the cross country originated. During the return flight, he observed that the fuel gauges read lower than anticipated, and that the needles were erratic. He was unsure if the aircraft was leaking fuel or if the engine was burning an excessive amount of fuel. He also reported indications of impending electrical failure. His radios were intermittent, and the VOR receiver stopped operating. He decided to perform a precautionary landing on a rural highway. After the aircraft touched down, an evasive maneuver was performed to avoid oncoming traffic. The right wing collided with a telephone pole and a fence, and the aircraft nosed over. The pilot also reported that on two occasions prior to the accident, during ground operations, engine roughness was observed during the magneto check. He believed that this was due to engine deposits, since the engine would run better after leaning the mixture and running the engine at a high power setting. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration visited the accident site and inspected the aircraft. He reported the following: Inspection of the spark plug leads revealed that three of the lead connectors were loose, and a fourth lead (the number four cylinder bottom lead) was not connected to the spark plug. The fuel tanks remained intact. The left tank was between 1/2 and 3/4 full of fuel; the right tank was about 3/4 full of fuel. The aircraft battery was not charged; the alternator and belt were in working condition. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6231B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6231B-1995-07-20), registration cancelled 1995-07-20, S/N 15283910 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15283910 - Airframe hours: 6394 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Coates, Larry, doing business as Hangar C Aviation - Registered owner: Coates, Larry - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 6, 1993, 26 hours before - Departed: 2A0, DAYTON, TN - Destination: RKW, ROCKWOOD, TN - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 50 total, 45 in this make and model, 17 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CSV, 16 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 19930516013889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930516013889A), May 16, 1993: Cessna 152, Grandview, TN, Substantial damage. Cross country low fuel and generator charge. Landed on road. Swerved due traffic. Plug leads loose. Generator inop. ## Other investigations on N6231B (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 ATL84LA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84LA178), May 20, 1984: Cessna 152 (N6231B), Lacey Springs, AL, 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.