BFO94LA095

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172 · York, PA · June 10, 1994

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 10, 1994, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC)
Place
York, PA
Injuries
2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N5522RCessna 172
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 25, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19940610015149A
Case key
8929

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the loss of total 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.

Loss of engine powerTakeoff - initial climb
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause
Forced landingDescent - emergency
Gear collapsedLanding - roll
Landing gear - overload
Nose overLanding - roll

Analysis

During initial climb, about 100 feet AGL, the airplane's engine lost total power. A forced landing was made in a wheat field and during the rollout the airplane nosed over. Post accident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies. The airplane's fuel tanks were full and the fuel selector was selected to the 'BOTH' position. The carburetor was torn away from the engine and the throttle linkage to the carburetor was damaged.

Factual narrative

On June 10, 1994, about 1900 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N5522R, lost total engine power about 100 feet above the ground during takeoff climb from runway 16 at the York Airport located in York, Pennsylvania. A forced landing was made in a field near the end of the runway. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and private pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The proficiency flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91.

The CFI reported, "At about 100 feet AGL [the] engine stopped running as we were approaching the departure end of runway 16. [The student] was flying, we had very few seconds to react, he recycled the throttle with no improvement in RPM. I yelled "Get the nose down," as he turned right to avoid an excavation site, power lines and a hill. I then pushed the yoke forward to avoid a stall. Next thing we were in the wheat field to the right of the runway. We didn't have enough time and/or altitude to properly flair. The aircraft nosed over and we evacuated and walked away."

Examination of the airframe and engine did not disclose any anomalies. The airplane's fuel tanks were full and the fuel selector valve was selected to the "BOTH" position. The carburetor was torn away from the engine and the throttle linkage to the carburetor was damaged.

Aircraft

Registration
N5522R
Reported as
Cessna 172
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17253099
Airframe hours
700
Engine
Continental O-300D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
J.T. & O.A. Salkin
Registered owner
J.T. & O.A. Salkin
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Airport
THV · York Airport, runway 16, 4,188 × 100 ft

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
49
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Right
Flight hours
2,080 total · 285 in this make and model · 1,960 as pilot in command · 201 in the last 90 days · 74 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
200° at 7 knots
Visibility
15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
81 °F, dew point 57 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
BWI, 32 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.