CHI00LA098

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152 · Butler, MO · March 25, 2000

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
March 25, 2000, 11:55 local (17:55 UTC)
Place
Butler, MO
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N6375HCessna 152
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 2, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20000325013459A
Case key
48847

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 certified flight instructor's improper use of the mixture control while demonstrating a simulated loss of engine power which resulted in fuel starvation. A factor associated with the accident was the rough terrain on which the forced landing was made.

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 power(total) - nonmechanicalCruise - normal
Emergency procedure - simulatedPilot in command(cfi)
Mixture - improper use ofPilot in command(cfi)Cause
Fluid,fuel - starvationCause
Forced landingEmergency descent/landing
Remedial action - attemptedPilot in command(cfi)
Nose overLanding - roll
Terrain condition - rough/unevenFactor

Analysis

The CFI reported that while practicing a simulated loss of engine power, he pulled the mixture to idle cut off to '...demonstrate a lesson to the student should he inadvertently pull the mixture instead of the throttle.' The CFI reported that he emphasized to the student that he needed to maintain a higher than normal glide airspeed to keep the propeller windmilling. They chose a field and during the turn onto final approach the propeller stopped windmilling. The CFI took control of the airplane and attempted to get the engine started to no avail. A forced landing was made in a rough field. The nose gear collapsed during the landing roll and the airplane nosed over.

Factual narrative

On March 25, 2000, at 1155 central standard time, a Cessna 152, N6375H, operated by a certified flight instructor (CFI), nosed over during a forced landing in a field, southeast of Butler, Missouri. The CFI and student pilot on board were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Clinton, Missouri, at 1110 cst.

The CFI reported they were practicing a simulated loss of engine power when the accident occurred. He reported that instead of pulling the power to idle, he pulled the mixture to idle cut off to "...demonstrate a lesson to the student should he inadvertently pull the mixture instead of the throttle." The CFI reported that he emphasized to the student that he needed to maintain a higher than normal glide airspeed to keep the propeller windmilling. He reported that they chose a field and during the turn onto final approach at an altitude of 2,500 feet mean sea level, the propeller stopped windmilling. The CFI reported he took control of the airplane and attempted to get the engine started to no avail. A forced landing was made in an open field. He reported that the field was rougher than anticipated. The nose gear collapsed during the landing roll and the airplane nosed over.

Aircraft

Registration
N6375H
Reported as
Cessna 152
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15284162
Airframe hours
9,755
Engine
Lycoming O-235-L2CM, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Gulicks Aviation
Registered owner
Ronald Gulick
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · January 25, 2000 · 77 hours before
Departed
GLY · Clinton, MO
Destination
MO85 · Harrisonville, MO

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
28
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Right
Flight hours
1,400 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 1,300 as pilot in command · 125 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
45° at 8 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
70 °F, dew point 55 °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.