- Date
- May 23, 1994, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Harlan, IA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N80812Cessna 152
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 9539
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 delayed remedial action by the flight instructor. A factor related to the accident was the wet runway surface.
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.
Analysis
The certified flight instructor aborted the soft field takeoff on the instructional flight when the airplane had not become airborne at a predetermined point on the runway. According to the instructor, the airplane slid slightly on the wet, grass runway after the power was reduced to idle and the brakes were applied heavily. In an attempt to prevent the propeller from striking a fence located at the end of the runway, the instructor steered the airplane to the left. The airplane impacted a fence post, bending the tail to the left. No preimpact mechanical abnormalities were reported.
Factual narrative
On May 23, 1994, about 0900 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N80812, was substantially damaged when it struck a fence post during an aborted soft field takeoff at Rushenberg Field, Harlan, Iowa. Neither the certificated flight instructor nor the commercial pilot, who was receiving dual instruction, were injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight originated from Omaha, Nebraska, without flight plan and operated in visual meteorological conditions.
According to the flight instructor, once the airplane did not become airborne at a predetermined point on the runway, he aborted the takeoff roll by reducing the power to idle and applying the brakes heavily. The airplane slid slightly on the wet, grass runway, but did not stop. In an attempt to prevent the propeller from striking a fence located at the end of the runway, the instructor steered the airplane to the left. The airplane impacted a fence post, bending the tail to the left. No preimpact mechanical abnormalities were reported by either pilot.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N80812
- Reported as
- Cessna 152
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 152-85368
- Airframe hours
- 7,056
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Sky Harbor Air Service, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Sky Harbor Air Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 14, 1994 · 75 hours before
- Departed
- OMA · Omaha, NE
- Airport
- HNR · Harlan Municipal, runway 24, 1,760 × 120 ft, grass/turf
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,230 total · 379 in this make and model · 1,118 as pilot in command · 255 in the last 90 days · 68 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg