FTW00LA109

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152 · Decatur, TX · March 28, 2000

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
March 28, 2000, 11:15 local (17:15 UTC)
Place
Decatur, TX
Injuries
2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N94912Cessna 152
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 2, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20000328007939A
Case key
51129

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The instructor pilot's failure to maintain the minimum controllable airspeed during a simulated emergency approach, which resulted in a stall.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightManeuvering
Emergency procedure - simulatedPilot in command(cfi)
Airspeed(vs) - not maintainedPilot in command(cfi)Cause
Stall - encounteredPilot in command(cfi)Cause
In flight collision with terrain/waterEmergency descent/landing
Terrain condition - grass

Analysis

According to the student pilot, the preflight inspection and pre-takeoff engine run-up did not reveal any anomalies with the airplane. The instructor was demonstrating a simulated engine failure and forced landing. The student reported that as the airplane descended 'close to the ground' the instructor 'added power, the engine responded, and immediately the aircraft became unstable and he lost control.' A witness reported that the airplane appeared to be practicing emergency landings. He added that he observed the airplane moving 'slower and slower' until 'it stalled.'

Factual narrative

On March 28, 2000, at 1115 central standard time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N94912, was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground while maneuvering near Decatur, Texas. The two occupants, a flight instructor and a student pilot, received minor injuries. The airplane was operated by Delta Aeronautics Inc., of Fort Worth, Texas, under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a dual instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed from the Fort Worth Meacham International Airport, Fort Worth, Texas, at 1030.

According to the student pilot, the preflight inspection and pre-takeoff engine run-up did not reveal any anomalies with the airplane. The instructor was demonstrating a simulated engine failure and forced landing. The student reported that as the airplane descended "close to the ground" the instructor "added power, the engine responded, and immediately the aircraft became unstable and he lost control." Subsequently, the airplane contacted the ground and came to rest upright. The instructor was unconscious for a short time immediately following the accident and does not recall the event.

A witness reported to an FAA inspector that the airplane appeared to be practicing emergency landings. The witness further reported that the airplane was flying from the east to the west and was moving "slower and slower" until finally it "stalled." He added that the airplane's left wing impacted the ground, followed by the nose.

The FAA inspector, who examined the airplane, reported that both wings incurred structural damage, the propeller separated from the engine crankshaft, and the nose landing gear folded aft. He added that the flaps were found extended to 30 degrees.

Aircraft

Registration
N94912
Reported as
Cessna 152
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15285810
Airframe hours
9,322
Engine
Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Delta Aeronautics Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Last inspection
Annual · February 29, 2000 · 93 hours before
Departed
FTW · Fort Worth, TX

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
25
Certificate
Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Right

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
190° at 10 knots
Visibility
8 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
77 °F, dew point 64 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
AFW, 20 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.

Other investigations on N94912 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.