# NTSB ERA15LA097: Cessna 152, N89921, Cullman, AL, January 10, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 10, 2015, 11:10 local (17:10 UTC)
- Place: Cullman, AL
- Coordinates: 34.200553, -86.804725 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2006&lon=-86.8047&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 29, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90594
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15LA097
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90594/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90594
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA097

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control after engine start, which resulted in a ground collision with trees.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Taxi: 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

The airplane was parked on the ramp as the student pilot was preparing to conduct a local solo flight. The student reported that he primed the engine four times and opened the throttle 1/4 to 1/2 inch for starting. Once the engine was started, the airplane began to roll, and ramp surveillance video showed the airplane quickly accelerating after the engine was started before it exited from the camera's view. The student stated that the brakes were not effective and that the throttle control would not move. The airplane rolled about 344 ft from where it was parked, struck trees, and sustained substantial damage to the forward portion of the fuselage, left wing, and engine firewall. Postaccident examination of the airplane, which included a functional check of the brakes, did not reveal any preaccident malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Given the evidence, it is likely that the student was not properly applying the brakes when he started the airplane, which allowed it to move forward after the engine started.

## Factual narrative

On January 10, 2015, about 1110 central standard time, a Cessna 152, N89921, operated by Wallace State Community College (WSCC), was substantially damaged when it impacted trees shortly after engine start, at the Cullman Regional Airport (CMD), Cullman, Alabama. The student pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the instructional flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane was parked on the ramp as the student pilot prepared to conduct a local solo flight. The student pilot reported that the airplane was not equipped with a parking brake. He primed the engine four times and opened the throttle 1/4 to 1/2 inch for starting. Upon starting the engine, the airplane began to roll; however, the brakes were not effective and the throttle control would not move. The airplane continued to roll and the student pilot was able to turn enough to avoid hitting a hangar. The airplane rolled approximately 344 feet from where it was parked, struck trees and sustained substantial damage to the forward portion of the fuselage, left wing, and engine firewall. Postaccident examination of the airplane by FAA inspectors was performed on January 15, 2015. The examination included a functional check of the brakes, and did not reveal any preaccident malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Both the throttle and mixture controls were impact damaged and could not be moved; however, they remained properly connected. It was noted that the airplane was equipped with a parking brake; however, it was ineffective due to a loose cable. School flight instructors reported that they did not teach students to utilize the parking brake during engine start because they did not want the students to rely on the parking brake and preferred to emphasize regular brake usage during engine starts. An FAA inspector further reported that ramp surveillance video showed the airplane quickly accelerating after the engine was started before it exited from camera view. According to maintenance records, the airplane had been operated about 6 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 30 days prior to the accident. The airplane was last flown by the student pilot about 1 week prior to the accident without incident. The student pilot reported about 24 hours of total flight experience, which included 2 hours logged as pilot-in-command.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N89921](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89921-2015-03-18), registration cancelled 2015-03-18, S/N 15282915, built 1978 (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: 15282915
- Year built: 1978
- Airframe hours: 12445
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Wallace State Community College
- Registered owner: Guest Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 11, 2014, 6 hours before
- Departed: CMD, Cullman, AL
- Destination: CMD, Cullman, AL
- Airport: CMD, Cullman Rgnl-Folsom Field
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 24 total, 24 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 5 °F
- Altimeter: 30.52 inHg
- Observed at: CMD

## 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 20150110000169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150110000169A), Jan 10, 2015: Cessna 152, Vinemont, AL, Substantial damage. After engine start by the student pilot, the aircraft rolled across the ramp and struck the trees approximately 343 feet from the parking spot. Student pilot…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 6, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90594. 4.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439834&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- FAA Inspector Memorandums (item 2, .PDF, 697 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439835&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Memorandums-Master.PDF
- Student Pilot's Logbook (item 3, .PDF, 549 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439836&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%27s%20Logbook-Master.PDF
- Maintenance Records (Excerpts) (item 4, .PDF, 324 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439837&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20(Excerpts)-Master.PDF
- Aircraft Checklists (Excerpts) (item 5, .PDF, 279 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439838&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Checklists%20(Excerpts)-Master.PDF
- Airport Weather Observations (item 6, .PDF, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439839&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF
- Photo Array (item 7, .PDF, 683 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439840&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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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