- Date
- August 10, 1997, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Dunlap, TN
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N6270HCessna 152
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 24, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970810021549A
- Case key
- 3888
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was returning from a personal flight when the engine had a partial loss of power. The pilot chose a field, headed for it, and as he approached the intended landing site, believed he would hit the trees so he attempted a go-around. The engine then quit, and the airplane came to rest in an oak tree 30 feet above the ground. During the postaccident examination of the airplane, four to six gallons of fuel was found in the tanks. The inspector indicated he found no reason for the loss of power.
Factual narrative
On August 10, 1997, about 1600 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N6270H, collided with a tree during an attempted forced landing in Dunlap, Tennessee. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The private pilot and passenger were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight departed Dallas Bay Airport, Chattanooga, Tennessee, about 1400.
According to the pilot, while he was returning back from a personal flight, the engine began to cough. The engine was "coughing in irregular intervals and there was a clear loss of power and altitude." He chose a field and headed for it. The pilot stated as he got closer to the field he realized he was headed for some trees. He attempted to go-around when the engine fully quit. The airplane came to rest 30 feet above the ground hanging from some oak trees. The pilot stated he and his passenger were able to climb down the tree. The pilot believed he had an hour of fuel left in the tanks.
The FAA conducted an on site examination of the wreckage. About four to six gallons of fuel were found in the fuel tanks. Compression was found on all four cylinders. The FAA inspector examining the airplane stated he could not rotate the propeller 360 degrees due to the starter ring gear grinding the starter housing when the propeller rotated. The FAA inspector stated four bolts were missing from the hub due to the spinner hitting a tree. Flight control continuity was observed and the cables were intact between the instrument panel and the engine.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6270H
- Reported as
- Cessna 152
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15284148
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Rolf J Hancock
- Registered owner
- John F Flevellin
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 1A0 · Dallas Bay, TN
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 28
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 80 total · 20 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.