# NTSB ERA15LA248: Cessna 152, N6553L, St. Augustine, FL, June 18, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 18, 2015, 14:20 local (18:20 UTC) - Place: St. Augustine, FL - Coordinates: 29.959167, -81.339721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9592&lon=-81.3397&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91421 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15LA248 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91421/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91421 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA248 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: 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) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that she and the student were performing practice takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern. During the fourth takeoff, at an altitude of about 200 ft above ground level, the engine lost partial power. The instructor took control of the airplane and initiated a left turn to return to the airport. The airplane touched down in a grassy area perpendicular to a taxiway, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane continued across the taxiway, where it came to rest upright and sustained substantial damage. Photographs of the airplane after the accident showed evidence of some fuel spillage on the taxiway; however, the fuel on board at the time of the accident was not quantified. There were no anomalies noted during an engine test run with a replacement carburetor and propeller. Thus, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On June 18, 2015, about 1420 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N6553L, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power on takeoff from Northeast Florida Regional Airport (SGJ), St. Augustine, Florida. The student pilot and flight instructor were not injured. The airplane was privately owned and operated by Florida Aviation Career Training as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight instructor stated that she and the student pilot had departed SGJ about 40 minutes earlier and practiced maneuvers in the local practice area before returning to the airport for practice takeoffs and landings. During the fourth takeoff, at an altitude about 200 ft above ground level, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane and initiated a left turn to return to the airport. The airplane touched down in a grassy area perpendicular to taxiway Bravo, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane continued across the taxiway, where it came to rest upright. Photographs provided of the airplane after the accident showed evidence of some fuel spillage on the taxiway; however, the fuel onboard at the time of the accident was not quantified. The airplane was transported to a storage facility, where an engine test run was performed with a replacement carburetor and propeller. There were no anomalies observed during the engine run. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6553L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6553L-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N 15284431, built 1980 (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: 15284431 - Year built: 1980 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Florida Aviation Career Training - Registered owner: T And D Ventures - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: SGJ, St. Augustine, FL - Destination: SGJ, St. Augustine, FL - Airport: SGJ, Northeast Florida Rgnl - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 26; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 25, 2015; seat: right; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KSGJ ## 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 20150618023499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150618023499A), Jun 18, 2015: Cessna 152, St. Augustine, FL, Substantial damage. On June 18, 2015, about 1422 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N6553L, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power on… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 3, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91421. 452 KB in all. - Memorandum for Record - CFI (item 1, .PDF, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479640&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20CFI-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Engine Test Run (item 2, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479641&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Engine%20Test%20Run-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 267 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479642&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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. --- 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.