# NTSB CHI98LA079: Cessna 152, N68299, Quincy, IL, October 17, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 17, 1997, 17:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Quincy, IL - Coordinates: 39.929409, -91.380012 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9294&lon=-91.3800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 26, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10819 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10819/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA079 ## Probable cause improper in-flight planning/decision by the flight instructor (CFI), by switching 'OFF' the fuel selector valve of the single-engine airplane (starving the engine of fuel) to 'simulate' an emergency. Factors relating to the accident were: the soft and uneven terrain conditions in the emergency landing area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - fuel system,selector/valve - switched off (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis The flight instructor (CFI) sent the student pilot on a solo flight after having flown with her earlier in the day. The CFI said the student departed with 20 gallons of fuel aboard the airplane. The student returned about 1 hour later. The CFI said he went flying with the student to check her progress. During this flight, the CFI moved the fuel selector to the 'OFF' position to simulate an engine failure. According to the CFI, the student performed the emergency engine starting procedures, and the fuel selector was returned to the 'ON' position. The CFI said his attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. He said he made a forced landing in the best field available, which was bottom land that had been disked (or plowed). During the landing, the airplane nosed over and was extensively damaged. The accident was reported about 2 months after it occurred. The airplane was not available for examination, and no reason was found to explain why an in-flight restart of the engine was not attained. ## Factual narrative On October 17, 1997, at 1720 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 152, N68299, piloted by a flight instructor, giving dual instruction to a student pilot, was destroyed when it nosed over during a forced landing onto a plowed field following a total loss of engine power. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight was not operating on a flight plan. The flight instructor and student pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed Quincy, Illinois, at 1615 cst. The flight instructor said he had flown the airplane earlier in the day with the student pilot. He said he assigned the student solo flight maneuvers after refueling the airplane so it would depart with 20 gallons of fuel on board. The instructor said the student had flown about 1 hour and returned to the airport. He said he "...went up with her once again to check her status on the maneuvers." The instructor said he "...turned the fuel off to simulate an engine failure." According to the instructor, the student performed the emergency procedures associated with an engine failure. He said he returned the fuel selector to the "ON" position. The instructor said he attempted to start the engine without success. The instructor said that he "...set the airplane up for an emergency landing." He said he "...chose... the best [field] in the area considering the altitude we at and our rate of descent." The instructor said the airplane touched down in the field and the next event he recalled was the student "...calling his name several times." The accident was reported to the NTSB about 2 months after it occurred. The airplane was not available for examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68299](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68299-1998-03-19), registration cancelled 1998-03-19, S/N 15282238 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15282238 - Airframe hours: 4702 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Matthew A. Short - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, October 17, 1997, 3 hours before - Departed: UIN - Destination: UIN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 542 total, 248 in this make and model, 462 as pilot in command, 137 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Temperature: 64 °F ## 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 19971017043499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971017043499A), Oct 17, 1997: Cessna 152, Quincy, IL, Destroyed. CFI turned fuel off to simulate engine out. Unalbe restart. Nosed over in plowed field landing. (.4)the flight instructor (CFI) sent the student pilot on a… 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.