CHI01LA071

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152 · Ann Arbor, MI · January 20, 2001

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
January 20, 2001, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC)
Place
Ann Arbor, MI
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N714UACessna 152
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 1, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20010120037989A
Case key
51366

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 CFI's delay in iniating remedial action to arrest the sink rate which developed on final approach. Factors associated with the accident were the student pilot failed to maintain a proper glidepath on final approach and the snow bank which the airplane contacted.

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.

UndershootLanding - flare/touchdown
Proper glidepath - not maintainedDual studentFactor
Remedial action - delayedPilot in command(cfi)Cause
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - flare/touchdown
Terrain condition - snowbankFactor
Gear collapsedLanding
Landing gear,main gear - overload
Landing gear,nose gear - overload

Analysis

The airplane undershot the runway and contacted a snow bank during the landing. The CFI reported the airplane was getting low during the landing approach, however, the student added power to correct. The student then pulled the power to idle on short final and the airplane began to sink. The CFI reported he thought they were going to make it to the runway and that he was unable to react quick enough once he realized that they were not going to make it. The airplane touched down in the snow approximately 10 feet prior to the approach end of the runway. The airplane then contacted a snow bank that was between the runway end lights and the surface of the runway. The nose and right main gears collapsed and the airplane slid 200 feet down the runway prior to coming to rest.

Factual narrative

On January 20, 2001, at 0945 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N714UA, operated by a certified flight instructor (CFI) collided with a snow bank while landing on runway 06 (3,500 feet by 75 feet, dry asphalt) at the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Neither the CFI nor the student pilot was injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 local instructional flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated at the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport at 0930 eastern standard time.

The CFI reported the purpose of the flight was for the student to practice takeoffs and landings. The CFI reported stated that the first landing was right of the runway centerline and a "bit rough." The CFI reported, "As we climbed out we discussed, again, doing a go-around if things didn't look or feel right." The CFI continued to report that during the second landing approach, they were getting a little low. The student added power so the CFI didn't say anything. "On short final, my student pulled the power to idle. I saw what was happening. We were sinking. The runway was right there and I thought that we would make it, just for a moment. When I realized we may not, I couldn't react quick enough to save us."

The airplane touched down in the snow approximately 10 feet prior to the approach end of the runway. The airplane then contacted a hard snow bank, which was situated between the runway end lights and the surface of the runway. The CFI reported that this caused the nose gear to be pushed under the belly and the right main gear was pulled back separating the wheel assembly. The propeller contacted the runway surface and the airplane slid 200 feet on the runway prior to coming to rest.

Aircraft

Registration
N714UA
Reported as
Cessna 152
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15279433
Airframe hours
3,144.6
Engine
Avco Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Approach Enterprises, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Last inspection
100 hour · November 21, 2000 · 53 hours before
Departed
ARB · Ann Arbor, MI
Destination
ARB · Ann Arbor, MI
Airport
ARB · Ann Arbor Municipal, runway 06, 3,500 × 75 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 · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
29
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Unknown
Seat
Right
Flight hours
1,078 total · 577 in this make and model · 987 as pilot in command · 140 in the last 90 days · 47 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Role
Student pilot
Age
24
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
19 total · 19 in this make and model · 0 as pilot in command · 19 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
340° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Altimeter
30.18 inHg
Observed at
ARB

FAA reports on this event · 1

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