# NTSB ERA13CA230: Cessna 152, N757GX, Americus, GA, April 23, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 23, 2013, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Americus, GA
- Coordinates: 32.154998, -84.32389 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1550&lon=-84.3239&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 86834
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA230
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86834/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86834
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA230

## Probable cause

The pilot’s delayed decision to terminate the practice approach during a simulated loss of engine power maneuver, which resulted in an inadvertent collision with utility wires.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot and passenger were returning to the airplane’s home airport near the conclusion of a cross-country flight, when the pilot elected to perform a simulated loss of engine power and subsequent practice approach to a farm field. During the approach, the pilot descended the airplane to about the height of the irrigation system installed in the field, when he noticed a “glint of light” and instinctually applied full power, increased pitch, and rolled the airplane right. The airplane then contacted a utility wire, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot subsequently returned to the destination airport and landed uneventfully. When enumerating the factors that contributed to the accident, the pilot noted that his “…decision to continue the approach as long as I did also played a role.” The pilot also reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot and passenger were returning to the airplane’s home airport near the conclusion of a cross-country flight, when the pilot elected to perform a simulated loss of engine power and subsequent practice approach to a farm field. During the approach, the pilot descended the airplane to about the height of the irrigation system installed in the field, when he noticed a “glint of light” and instinctually applied full power, increased pitch, and rolled the airplane right. The airplane then contacted a utility wire, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot subsequently returned to the destination airport and landed uneventfully. When enumerating the factors that contributed to the accident, the pilot noted that his “…decision to continue the approach as long as I did also played a role.” The pilot also reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N757GX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N757GX), registered now, S/N 15279739, built 1977 (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: 15279739
- Airframe hours: 10068
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 31, 2013
- Departed: KSCJ, Americus, GA
- Destination: KPXE, Perry, GA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 25, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 72 total, 8 in this make and model, 30 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 20130423005969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130423005969A), Apr 23, 2013: Cessna 152, Americus, GA, Substantial damage. On April 23 at approximately 1845Z, aircraft operator [privacy data omitted] departed kacj on runway 5 and made two circles around a local point of interest to…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 12, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86834. 6.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Pilot) (item 1, .PDF, 764 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394982&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(Pilot)-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Operator) (item 2, .PDF, 544 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394983&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(Operator)-Redacted.PDF
- Passenger Statement (item 3, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394984&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - FAA (item 4, .PDF, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398307&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - Weather (item 5, .PDF, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398311&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Weather-Master.PDF
- Photo 1: View of Right Wing Leading Edge (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398301&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20Right%20Wing%20Leading%20Edge%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: View of Right Wing Leading Edge and Vertical Stabilizer (Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398302&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20View%20of%20Right%20Wing%20Leading%20Edge%20and%20Vertical%20Stabilizer%20(Courtesy%20of%20%20FAA)-Master.PDF

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.

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