CHI03LA233

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152 · Brooklyn, MI · July 29, 2003

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 29, 2003, 15:15 local (19:15 UTC)
Place
Brooklyn, MI
Injuries
1 serious, 1 minor
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N910MFCessna 152
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 5, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20030729016559A
Case key
57598

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 failure to attain the proper touchdown point, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane.

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.

Hard landingLanding - flare/touchdown
Proper touchdown point - not attainedPilot in commandCause
Aborted landing - attemptedPilot in command
Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - tree(s)
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll
Terrain condition - swampy
FireStanding - engine(s) not operating

Analysis

The airplane was destroyed on impact with a tree, terrain, and post impact fire following an aborted landing. The pilot stated that he thought he had blown the left tire and tried to correct by increasing the throttle and raising one notch of flaps. The pilot indicated that he did not have enough airspeed and the left wingtip hit a tree. The airplane impacted a marsh and caught on fire. An on-scene examination of the airplane and accident site revealed that the accident airplane's tires left initial touch down witness marks at the midpoint of the 2,822 feet long runway. Tire marks left as a result of the bounces had burned the grass to the dirt. Further inspection of the grass strip failed to produce any rubber tire material or other aircraft parts. The airplane's fuselage was consumed by fire. Flight control continuity was established. Throttle and mixture controls were found in the full forward position. No airplane anomalies were detected during the examination. Wind was variable at 3 knots.

Factual narrative

On July 29, 2003, about 1515 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N910MF, owned and operated by MDR Rental Corporation, was destroyed on impact with a tree and terrain and post impact fire following an aborted landing on runway 01 (2,822 feet by 100 feet, dry turf) at Shamrock Field Airport (6G8), near Brooklyn, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot reported minor injuries, and his passenger was seriously injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The local flight departed from 6G8 at about 1500 and was landing at 6G8 at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported that the airplane bounced and veered to the left after touchdown. The pilot stated that he thought he had blown the left tire and tried to correct by increasing the throttle and raising one notch of flaps. The pilot indicated that he did not have enough airspeed and the left wingtip hit a tree. The airplane impacted a marsh and caught on fire.

A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector performed an on-scene examination of the airplane and accident site. The inspector stated that the accident airplane's tires left initial touch down witness marks at the midpoint of the runway. He stated the marks indicated the airplane "bounced several times, departed the west side of the runway, crossed a grave service road, and continued north [approximately] 100 ... yards before the tire marks disappeared [approximately] 100 ft. south of Wampler's Lake Rd. The tire marks left as a result of the bounces had burned the grass to the dirt. Further inspection of the grass strip failed to produce any rubber tire material or other aircraft parts." The airplane's fuselage was consumed by fire. There was evidence of melted rubber on both main landing gear wheel rims. The condition of the left main tire could not be determined as the fire consumed it. Flight control continuity was established. Throttle and mixture controls were found in the full forward position. The inspector's statement did not show any airplane anomalies were detected.

At 1456, the recorded weather at Jackson County Airport-Reynolds Field, near Jackson, Michigan, was: Wind variable at 3 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; Sky condition scattered 5,000 feet, scattered 7,500 feet; temperature 26 degrees C; dew point 12 degrees C; altimeter 30.04 inches of mercury.

Aircraft

Registration
N910MF
Reported as
Cessna 152
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15283037
Airframe hours
14,324.3
Engine
Lycoming O-235-LC2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
MDR Rental Corportation
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 2, 2003 · 15 hours before
Departed
6G8 · Brooklyn, MI
Destination
6G8 · Brooklyn, MI
Airport
6G8 · Shamrock Fld, runway 01, 2,822 × 100 ft, grass/turf

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
79
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
October 15, 2002
Seat
Left
Flight hours
500 total · 300 in this make and model · 500 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 3 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
79 °F, dew point 54 °F
Altimeter
30.04 inHg
Observed at
JXN, 14 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 19, 2003, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 812 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.