# NTSB FTW01LA174: Cessna 152, N5183P, Denison, TX, August 5, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 5, 2001, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Denison, TX - Coordinates: 33.749069, -96.560585 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7491&lon=-96.5606&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 52963 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA174 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52963/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA174 ## Probable cause the pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment ## Analysis The airplane was departing from a grass airstrip. The pilot stated that he initiated a "short field takeoff," and the airplane lifted off of the ground between 800 and 1,000 feet down the 1,800-foot runway. The airplane was between 10 and 30 feet agl when he "detected an abnormal running sound of an engine." He aborted the takeoff and, subsequently, the airplane overran the end of the runway and contacted an embankment. The pilot-rated passenger reported that it took "a while for the airspeed to come to life," and when the airplane finally lifted off of the ground, the pilot decided that the airplane wouldn't clear trees and aborted the takeoff. The passenger added that the following conditions existed: "high temperature, full fuel, two occupants, no flaps, no run-up, short grass strip." The density altitude was calculated to be 3,545 feet. ## Factual narrative On August 5, 2001, at 1700 central daylight time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N5183P, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain following an aborted takeoff near Denison, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by Grayson Flying Service Inc., of Denison, Texas. The commercial pilot and his pilot-rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. The local flight was departing from the McKeon Airstrip, Denison, Texas, at the time of the accident, and was destined for the Grayson County Airport, Denison, Texas. According to the accident pilot, he worked as a line service representative for Grayson Flying Service. He reported that the accident airplane was rented by another employee on the morning of August 5, 2001. The employee took off, heard a "knocking sound," and returned to the airport. After landing, the pilot reported the discrepancy to the manager. The manager asked the accident pilot and another employee (accident passenger) to examine the airplane. He instructed them that if no discrepancies were found, they could test fly the airplane in the local area. No discrepancies were found during the examination, and the line service representative and the additional employee taxied the airplane for takeoff, performed an engine run-up and departed from the Grayson County Airport. They flew to the McKeon grass airstrip, landed and parked the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no anomalies during this flight. They returned to the airplane a few minutes later, started the engine, taxied for takeoff and initiated a "short field takeoff." The pilot stated that the airplane became airborne between 800 and 1,000 feet down the 1,800-foot runway. He reported that the airplane was between 10 and 30 feet agl when he "detected an abnormal running sound of an engine like as if the engine was maybe missing on a cylinder intermittently." He stated that he aborted the takeoff, landed the airplane on the airstrip and, subsequently, the airplane departed the end of the airstrip. The airplane then contacted an embankment and came to a stop upright. The passenger reported that it took "a while for the airspeed to come to life." He stated that when the airplane "finally" lifted off of the ground, the pilot decided that the airplane wouldn't clear trees at the end of the runway and aborted the takeoff. He further stated that "never once did the engine seem like it had a problem during the whole flight." He added that the takeoff conditions from the airstrip were: "high temperature, full fuel, two occupants, no flaps, no run-up, short grass strip." The density altitude was calculated by the NTSB investigator-in-charge to be 3,545 feet. An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the accident site and reported that the firewall was structurally damaged, the engine mount was damaged, and the propeller blades were bent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5183P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5183P), registered now, S/N 15284890, built 1981 (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: 15284890 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Grayson Flying Service Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: 8F8, Dennison, TX - Destination: F39, Denison, TX - Airport: 8F8, McKeon Aviation, runway 36, 1,800 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 15, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 437 total, 78 in this make and model, 383 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 9 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 102 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: TKI, 30 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010805020609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010805020609A), Aug 5, 2001: Cessna 152, Denison, TX, No damage. (-23) Partial loss of power/rough engine immediately after takeoff. 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.