- 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.
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.