# NTSB ERA09LA247: Cessna 152, N64988, Cross City, FL, April 16, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 16, 2009, 10:15 local (14:15 UTC) - Place: Cross City, FL - Coordinates: 29.635555, -83.104721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6356&lon=-83.1047&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report July 14, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73663 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA247 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73663/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA247 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis While climbing through 3,400 feet mean seal level (msl), the newly certificated private pilot noticed that the engine power decreased by approximately 300 rpm; however, the engine was running smoothly with no abnormal noise. The pilot verified that the engine controls were in the proper position and he then positioned the carburetor heat to "ON." The engine power continued a steady decay to 1,400 rpm as the airplane descended to 1,000 feet msl and the pilot elected to perform a forced landing to a field that he had been circling. During the landing, he overshot his intended touchdown point. The airplane subsequently struck two fence posts and came to rest inverted in the field. Review of fueling records revealed that the airplane had adequate fuel to complete the round trip cross-country flight. The engine crankshaft and carburetor were damaged during impact, which limited the field examination of those components. The cabin heat was noted in the "ON" position and the carburetor heat was in the "OFF" position; however, the carburetor box had been pulled from the airframe during impact. Examination of the wreckage could not identify the reason for the engine power loss. Review of a Federal Aviation Administration Carburetor Icing Chart revealed "Serious icing - glide power" for the reported temperature and dew point conditions. ## Factual narrative On April 16, 2009, about 1015 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N64988, operated by Sunrise Aviation, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field, following a partial loss of engine power during climbout from Cross City Airport (CTY), Cross City, Florida. The certificated private pilot and student pilot passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned flight to Ormond Beach Municipal Airport (OMN), Ormond Beach, Florida. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot reported that he departed CTY with 14 gallons of fuel. While climbing through 3,400 feet mean sea level (msl), the engine power decreased by about 300 rpm; however, the engine was running smoothly and the pilot did not hear any abnormal engine noise. The pilot then verified that the master switch was "ON," the ignition was selected to "BOTH," the fuel selector was positioned to "ON," the mixture was rich, and the throttle was in the full power position. He then positioned the carburetor heat to "ON," where it remained for the remainder of the flight. The engine power continued a steady decay to 1,400 rpm as the airplane descended to 1,000 feet msl, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field that he had been circling. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the recently certificated private pilot and student pilot passenger were completing a round trip cross-country flight. The airplane was "topped off" with fuel prior to the first leg of the trip. As the pilot attempted a forced landing to a field, he overshot his intended landing point. The airplane struck two fence posts and came to rest inverted in the field. During the impact, the airplane sustained structural damage to both wings and the fuselage. Examination of the wreckage by the FAA inspector revealed that due to impact damage, the crankshaft was bent. Additionally, the carburetor had separated and was impact damaged. The cabin heat was noted in the "ON" position and the carburetor heat was "OFF;" however, the carburetor box had been pulled from the airframe during impact. The inspector could not identify the reason for the engine power loss. The report weather at CTY, at 0953, was: wind from 050 degrees at 7 knots; visibility 10 miles; sky clear; temperature 17 degrees Celsius; dew point 11 degrees Celsius; altimeter 30.11 inches of mercury. Review of an FAA Carburetor Icing Chart revealed "Serious icing - glide power" for a temperature of 17 degrees Celsius and a dew point of 11 degrees Celsius. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64988](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N64988), registered now, S/N 15281515 (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: 15281515 - Airframe hours: 7286 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sunrise Aviation - Registered owner: Murray Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, April 7, 2009, 21 hours before - Departed: CTY, Cross City, FL - Destination: OMN, Ormond Beach, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 24, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 136 total, 136 in this make and model, 40 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CTY ## 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 20090416006439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090416006439A), Apr 16, 2009: Cessna 152, Trenton, FL, Destroyed. (-23) A/c N-64988 departed ormond beach, FL. At approx. 8:30AM on x-country to cross city, FL., departed cross city, FL. At approx 10:15 to return to ormond… ## Other investigations on N64988 (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI93LA270](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA270), Jul 22, 1993: Cessna 152 (N64988), Howell, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF PORTION OF A TOUCH AND GO LANDING. 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.