# NTSB CHI99FA052: Cessna 152, N5314B, Sherrill, IA, December 17, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: December 17, 1998, 10:42 local (16:42 UTC) - Place: Sherrill, IA - Coordinates: 42.600395, -90.780502 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6004&lon=-90.7805&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45483 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99FA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45483/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99FA052 ## Probable cause the pilot continued flying with a known discrepancy and he failed to maintain airspeed and lost control of the airplane while attempting a forced landing. Factors included the tailwind and the undetermined loss of power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, emergency descent/landing - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - airspeed - low, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Nose over, descent - uncontrolled - Fire, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot reported the airplane was experiencing a degradation of power while practicing touch and go landings at an outlying field. He decided to fly back to the original departure airport, 21 miles away. He did not indicate over the radio what kind of problem the airplane was experiencing. He attempted to execute a forced landing. A ground witness reported the airplane barely cleared powerlines as it followed the contours of a field. He reported the airplane was flying low and slow at about 50 feet when it nosedived and flipped over and started burning. The main wreckage was located 80 feet from the initial ground scar on a heading of 080 degrees. The wind was from 250 degrees at 8 knots. The right wingtip had leading edge crush marks. The left wing's leading edge was crushed from the strut attach point to the wingtip. The cabin was destroyed by fire. The propeller blades were undamaged except for forward bending at the blade tips. The right and left magnetos received fire damage. The engine teardown and airframe inspection revealed no pre-impact anomalies. ## Factual narrative History of Flight On December 17, 1998, at 1042 central standard time, a Cessna 152, N5314B, operated by the University of Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa, was destroyed when it impacted the ground during a forced landing. After impact, the airplane nosed over and burned. The commercial pilot, a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) who worked as a flight instructor for the university's flight department, received fatal injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight had departed from the Dubuque Airport on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. A witness, who was also a CFI for the University of Dubuque and a friend and colleague of the accident pilot, reported that he and the accident pilot had made arrangements to go fly on the morning of the accident. The witness reported that the pilot wanted to do some pleasure flying, since most of the flying he had recently flown had involved giving flight instruction. The two pilots met at the airport on the morning of the accident. The witness reported the accident pilot flew a Cessna 152, N5314B (14B), and the witness flew a Cessna 172, N737EQ (7EQ). The witness reported both airplanes were fueled and fuel samples were taken from both airplanes prior to takeoff. He reported that "extensive pre-flights" were conducted on both airplanes. He reported that the pilots had agreed to depart to the north and rendezvous over the John Deere airstrip, which was a closed airport approximately 7 miles to the north. He reported the pilots changed frequencies to 123.45 over the John Deere airstrip in order to communicate with each other during the flight. The witness reported he departed first in the 7EQ. 14B departed about three minutes later and rendezvoused with 7EQ, who was practicing steep turns over the John Deere airstrip. The witness reported the airplanes proceeded to Cassville Airport, Cassville, Wisconsin, which was 21 nautical miles to the north northwest of Dubuque Airport, to practice touch and goes. The witness reported the airplanes switched to the local CTAF radio frequency prior to entering the traffic pattern. The witness reported he landed 7EQ on runway 11 and taxied to the ramp to let 14B land. 14B did a low pass and entered a downwind for runway 11. The witness reported he radioed 14B and informed him that he would be taking off from runway 29 due to the wind direction. 7EQ did a takeoff from runway 29 and 14B did a touch and go on runway 29. The witness reported 7EQ completed three touch and goes and 14B completed a total of four touch and goes. The witness reported that prior to 14B's fourth touch and go, the accident pilot called over the radio to 7EQ and said, "My engine isn't developing power, I'm not getting the performance." The witness reported that he responded to the radio call by informing the accident pilot that 14B could land, and 7EQ would pick him up. The witness reported the accident pilot responded by saying, "No, I think I can make it back to DBQ (Dubuque)." The witness reported that 7EQ and 14B departed the Cassville Airport's traffic pattern to return to Dubuque Airport. The witness reported 7EQ was ahead of 14B so 7EQ turned to a heading of 270 degrees to let 14B catch up. The witness reported that when the airplanes were north of Sherrill, Iowa, he was able to maneuver 7EQ close enough to 14B to check to see if he could spot any problems with 14B. He reported that he did not observe any smoke or oil, or any other abnormality with the airplane. The witness reported that approximately 1.5 to 2 miles northwest of John Deere airstrip, the accident pilot radioed, "Oh, ****," (expletive) and 14B went into a steep, descending left turn. The witness estimated that 14B was in a 30 degree angle of bank, 20 degrees nose down, and a 500 to 1,000 feet per minute rate of descent, descending turn. The witness asked the accident pilot what was wrong, and he reported the accident pilot responded, "What do you think." The witness reported the accident pilot radioed that he planned to go to the John Deere airstrip, but then chose not to because there was equipment on the runway. The witness reported that he accelerated ahead of 14B and flew over John Deere airstrip between 50 to 75 feet above the runway in an effort to clear the runway of equipment. The witness made a turn to the right and asked twice over the radio, "14B, where are you?" The witness reported that as 7EQ came out of the turn to the north, he saw 14B upside down in a field and on fire. He reported he circled over the accident airplane and contacted Dubuque Airport tower and reported the accident. He reported the tower personnel dispatched rescue vehicles to the scene. The witness reported that he continued circling over the accident scene until emergency vehicles arrived at the site. A witness, who was driving a truck eastbound on Koltes Lane and going up the steep part of the hill, reported he saw an airplane flying low traveling south to north. He reported the airplane "barely cleared the wires" which paralleled Koltes Lane. He reported the airplane was no higher than 75 to 100 feet above ground level (agl). He reported it was wings level and that the wings were not "rocking back and forth." He reported it was in a shallow descent after it crossed the powerlines. He reported the airplane was following the hill and gradually turned to the northeast. He reported it was going slow but he could not tell if the engine was operating. He reported the airplane was approximately 50 feet agl when it went over a little "knob." The witness reported he lost sight of the airplane momentarily as it went behind the knob. When he saw the airplane again it did a nosedive. He reported it nosed over on its top after impact and he immediately observed flames coming from the wreckage. The fire prevented rescue of the pilot from the wreckage. Firefighters from the surrounding area and airport responded to the accident. Personnel Information The pilot was a commercially rated pilot with single and multi-engine land ratings, and a glider rating. He held a Second Class medical certificate. He was a Certified Flight Instructor with single engine land and instrument instructor ratings. The pilot had a total of about 515 hours of flight time. 304 hours were in the make and model of the accident airplane. He had a total of 148 hours of flight time giving flight instruction. He had flown 109 hours in the last 90 days and 101 hours had been as a flight instructor. He had flown 45 hours in the last 30 days, and 3 hours within the last 24 hours. The pilot had started flying as a flight instructor at the University of Dubuque in the fall of 1998. He had received a Standardization Check ride from the university flight department's Assistant Check Pilot on August 30, 1998. The accident pilot flew N5314B, the accident C-152, for 2.5 hours the day prior to the accident. Aircraft Information The airplane was a single engine Cessna 152, serial number 15283834. The engine was a 110 horsepower Lycoming O-235-L2C engine. The last 100 hour maintenance inspection was conducted on October 27, 1998. The airplane had flown 50 hours since the last inspection and had a total time of 6927 hours. Maintenance records indicated the last engine overhaul was conducted on August 27, 1990, and the engine was determined to have 2,437 hours since overhaul. Maintenance records indicated the university had ordered a replacement engine in October 1998, but it had not arrived prior to the accident. A locally produced "Squawk Sheet" used by the flight department to track minor aircraft discrepancies was destroyed in the fire. Interviews with numerous instructor pilots revealed that none of the pilots reported any squawks concerning engine related items. A recurring complaint made by the pilots was the intercom di ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5314B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5314B-2001-12-03), registration cancelled 2001-12-03, S/N 15283834, built 1979 (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: 15283834 - Airframe hours: 6927 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: University Of Dubuque - Registered owner: Robert C. Reeves - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 27, 1998, 50 hours before - Departed: DBQ, DUBUQUE, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 19; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 515 total, 304 in this make and model, 444 as pilot in command, 109 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DBQ, 11 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 19981217033479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981217033479A), Dec 17, 1998: Cessna 152, Sherrill, IA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Acft crashed in a field and came to rest inverted. (.19)on December 17, 1998, at 1042 central standard time, a Cessna 152, N5314B, operated by the university… 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.