- Date
- May 31, 1989, 20:41 local (Jun 1, 1989, 00:41 UTC)
- Place
- Sutherland, VA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N5488FAircoupe Alon A2A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report August 22, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890531059129A
- Case key
- 11503
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
Low output of the magnetos which resulted in the loss of full power during the attempted recovery from a simulated forced landing. The pilot ignored indications of an engine problem during start when the engine was hard to start.
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 purpose of the flt was to prepare the student for his pvt pilot checkride. The CFI and student were performing a simulated forced landing spiral and the student was instructed to perform a go-around at 900 ft MSL. When the throttle was advanced to go-around the student reported to the CFI that he could not get full power. The CFI adjusted the throttle and mixture to no avail. The forced landing was continued and at the last minute the airplane was turned to avoid a farm house. The landing gear caught a furrow during the landing flare and the airplane nosed over. Post accident inspection revealed that the engine would not operate. Both magnetos were removed and one replacement magneto was installed after which the engine operated normally. An FAA inspector reported that the magneto coils were 'weak'. The acft had been operated 72 hours since the last annual inspection.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5488F
- Reported as
- Aircoupe Alon A2A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- B288
- Airframe hours
- 601
- Engine
- Continental C-90-16F, 95 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- A. T. Harp
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 25, 1988 · 72 hours before
- Departed
- PTB · Petersburg, VA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 30
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 850 total · 49 in this make and model · 756 as pilot in command · 99 in the last 90 days · 24 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.