# NTSB CHI00LA245: Cessna 152, N7385W, Arthur, ND, August 5, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 4, 2000, 20:05 local (Aug 5, 2000, 01:05 UTC) - Place: Arthur, ND - Coordinates: 47.09917, -97.210823 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0992&lon=-97.2108&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49952 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA245 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49952/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA245 ## Probable cause the water contamination found in the fuel and the pilot misjudging his altitude during the emergency procedure. A factor was the terrain condition of the corn crop. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - fluid,fuel - contamination,water (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - emergency procedure - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with crops and terrain during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power. The pilot was uninjured. The pilot said he felt he had the runway made and set up for a slightly wide base leg to lose excess altitude. He said that on final, the approach looked good but slightly high, so he lowered 10 degrees of flaps. He stated that it then appeared the glide was going to be short. The pilot further said, 'Realizing I would not make the runway I banked slightly to the left in an attempt to land in the soybean field east of the corn field I was over. Just before impact I flared slightly and the aircraft struck the corn field and nosed over, landing on its back. I was uninjured and exited the aircraft.' A Federal Aviation Administration inspector performed an on-scene examination of the wreckage. The inspector's report states, 'Prior to engine test run and after aircraft was turned right side up, approximately one teaspoon of water was drained from sumps. Possible fuel contamination suspected. Static engine test run was satisfactory.' ## Factual narrative On August 4, 2000, about 2005 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N7385W, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with crops and terrain during a forced landing north of runway 17 (3,100 feet X 85 feet, dry/grass) following an in-flight loss of engine power near Arthur Airport, near Arthur, North Dakota. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the flight. No flight plan was on file. The pilot was uninjured. The local flight departed Hector International Airport, near Fargo, North Dakota, at 1945 and was on approach for practice landings at Arthur Airport at the time of the accident. In his written statement the pilot said, "At approximately 2500 MSL, on a high downwind position for runway 17, I applied carb heat and throttled back. I then realized the engine had quit. Moving the throttle had no effect. I checked that the mixture was rich (full in), the fuel shut-off valve was on, the mags were on, the master was on, the primer was in and locked, and that the carb heat was on. The prop was windmilling and the engine did not restart. I pitched for best glide speed of 60 KIAS and prepared for an engine-out landing. I felt I had the runway made and set up for a slightly wide base leg to lose excess altitude. Had I turned directly into the runway I would have overshot. I secured the engine by pulling the mixture out, shutting the fuel shut-off valve off, and turning the mags off. Rolling out on final, the approach looked good but slightly high so I lowered 10 degrees of flaps. It then appeared the glide was going to be short so I attempted an engine restart." The pilot further said, "Realizing I would not make the runway I banked slightly to the left in an attempt to land in the soybean field east of the corn field I was over. Just before impact I flared slightly and the aircraft struck the corn field and nosed over, landing on its back. I was uninjured and exited the aircraft." A Federal Aviation Administration inspector performed an on-scene examination of the wreckage. The inspector's report states, "Prior to engine test run and after aircraft was turned right side up, approximately one teaspoon of water was drained from sumps. Possible fuel contamination suspected. Static engine test run was satisfactory." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7385W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7385W-2003-05-01), registration cancelled 2003-05-01, S/N 15284502, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15284502 - Airframe hours: 7212 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 105 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Flight Training Ltd. - Registered owner: Clif S. Hamilton Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 3, 2000, 3 hours before - Departed: FAR, FARGO, ND - Airport: 1A2, Arthur Airport, runway 17, 3,100 × 85 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,700 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 2,640 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 160° at 14 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FAR, 26 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000804036939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000804036939A), Aug 4, 2000: Cessna 152, Arthur, ND, No damage. (-23) Pilot suffered engine failure on downwind. Aircraft landed in cornfield 1/4 mile short of the runway and flipped over. ## Other investigations on N7385W (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CHI91LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA009), Oct 14, 1990: Cessna 152 (N7385W), Crookston, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: A POORLY PLANNED APPROACH, AND FAILURE TO TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE PILOT. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.