# NTSB ATL99LA034: Cessna 152, N5144B, Shelbyville, TN, December 14, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 14, 1998, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Shelbyville, TN - Coordinates: 35.490749, -86.439361 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4907&lon=-86.4394&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45459 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL99LA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45459/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA034 ## Probable cause Water contamination of the fuel supply, resulting from the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - contamination,water (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The student pilot reported that approximately forty-five minutes into the flight, the engine rpm dropped and subsequently lost power. Attempts by the student pilot to restore full engine power, failed. The student pilot made an emergency landing in an open field. Examination of the airplane disclosed that the nose gear assembly had sheared off and, that the engine firewall had sustained impact damage. The examination also revealed that a fuel line in the vicinity of the chin cowling had also ruptured and an unknown quantity of fuel was spilled. Approximately a quart of liquid was recovered from the fuel system; 90% of the liquid was clear water. Water was also discovered in the carburetor bowl, and the filter assembly. Reportedly the airplane was refueled about two days before the accident, and subsequent to the refueling, the area experienced severe thunderstorm activity. Security of the fuel caps after the refueling was not confirmed. The pilot did not report checking and securing the fuel caps during the preflight inspection. ## Factual narrative On December 14, 1998, at 1000 Central Standard Time, a Cessna 152, N5144B, registered to Middle Tennessee State University, collided with the ground, according to the student pilot's flight instructor, during an attempted forced landing ten miles south of Shelbyville, Tennessee. The instructional flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR part 91. The student pilot had filed a flight plan for the solo cross-country flight. An examination of the airplane at the accident site disclosed that the airframe had sustained substantial structural damage. According to the flight instructor, the student pilot was not injured. The flight departed Murfreesboro, Tennessee, at 0915. The student pilot reported that, approximately forty-five minutes into the flight, the engine rpm dropped. The student pilot pulled the throttle lever to the idle position, and applied carburetor heat. The engine rpm continued to drop, and the engine subsequently quit. Attempts by the student pilot to restore full engine power, failed (see attached pilot aircraft accident report). The student pilot selected an open field for an emergency landing. During the landing attempt, the nose wheel assembly sustained structural damage. Examination of the airplane disclosed that the nose gear assembly had sheared off and, that the engine firewall had sustained impact damage. The examination also revealed that a fuel line in the vicinity of the chin cowling had also ruptured and an unknown quantity of fuel was spilled. Approximately a quart of liquid was recovered from the fuel system; 90% of the liquid was clear water. Water was also discovered in the carburetor bowl, and the filter assembly. Reportedly the airplane was refueled about two days before the accident, and subsequent to the refueling, the area experienced severe thunderstorm activity. Security of the fuel caps after the refueling was not confirmed. The pilot did not report checking and securing the fuel caps during the preflight inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5144B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5144B), registered now, S/N 15283774, built 1979 (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: 15283774 - Airframe hours: 6824 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Kyle Flood - Registered owner: Middle Tenn State University - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 23, 1998, 28 hours before - Departed: MBT, MURFREESBORO, TN - Destination: HSV, HUNTSVILLE, AL - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 18; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 51 total, 51 in this make and model, 39 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SYI, 3 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 19981214045979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981214045979A), Dec 14, 1998: Cessna 152, Shelbyville, TN, Substantial damage. (.4) The student pilot reported that, approximately forty-five minutes into the flight, the engine RPM dropped and subsequently quit. Attempts by the student… 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.