CEN10CA346

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152 · St. Charles, MO · June 25, 2010

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
June 25, 2010, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
Place
St. Charles, MO
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N5461BCessna 152
Defining event
Landing: Collision during takeoff/land
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 19, 2011
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20100625042299A
Case key
76453

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

The pilot's improper takeoff procedure that led to a decreased climb rate and subsequent off-airport landing.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: climb rateAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna 152: 2 casesAll aircraft: 265 casesProbable cause
Action: incorrect action performancePersonnel issues › Action/decision · PilotCessna 152: 22 casesAll aircraft: 1,386 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot stated that she was conducting touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. During the last touch-and-go landing, she retracted the flaps and applied full throttle. The ground roll seemed slightly longer than previous takeoffs. After liftoff, the airplane was not climbing and the pilot thought that it was developing less than full power. As the airplane was approaching power lines, the pilot felt that the airplane would not clear them so she elected to land on a field. The airplane impacted the ground during the landing and sustained substantial damage, which included a damaged left wing, a ruptured fuel tank, and a deformed fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the airplane cockpit flap indicator was in the 20-degree position. No preexisting mechanical anomalies were noted with the airframe, engine, or engine accessories that would have precluded normal operation. According to the aircraft’s Pilot Operating Handbook, “Normal takeoffs are accomplished with wing flaps 0°- 10°. Using 10° wing flaps reduces the total distance over an obstacle by approximately 10%. Flap deflections greater than 10° are not approved for takeoff.”

Factual narrative

The pilot was performing touch and go landings on runway 09 (3,451 feet by 50 feet, asphalt) when the airplane impacted terrain during takeoff. The pilot stated that during the last takeoff, the flaps were retracted and full throttle was applied. The ground roll seemed "slightly longer" than previous takeoffs. After liftoff, the airplane was not climbing and was developing less than full power. As the airplane was approaching power lines, the pilot felt that the airplane would not clear them so she elected to land on a field. The airplane impacted the ground during the landing and sustained substantial damage, which included a damaged left wing, a ruptured fuel tank, and a deformed fuselage. Examination of the airplane revealed that the airplane cockpit flap indicator was in the 20 degree position. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the airframe, engine, and engine accessories that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N5461B
Reported as
Cessna 152
Category
Airplane
Serial number
55991
Engine
Lycoming O-235, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
St Charles Flying Service
Registered owner
Doug Koch
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
3SQ · St. Charles, MO
Destination
3SQ · St. Charles, MO
Airport
3SQ · St Charles Airport, runway 09, 3,451 × 50 ft, asphalt

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
44
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
April 10, 2010
Seat
Left
Flight hours
536 total · 376 in this make and model · 377 as pilot in command · 23 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 4 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
90 °F, dew point 66 °F
Altimeter
29.96 inHg
Observed at
STL, 9 nm away

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 15, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 743 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N5461B · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.