# NTSB FTW02LA073: Cessna 152, N47802, Ardmore, OK, January 26, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 26, 2002, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Ardmore, OK - Coordinates: 34.190433, -97.109985 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1904&lon=-97.1100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 1, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administartion - NTSB case key (mKey): 54086 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54086/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54086 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA073 ## Probable cause the instructor pilot's delayed go-around which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. A contributing factor to the accident was the instructor pilot's fatigued condition due to lack of sleep. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) - fatigue(lack of sleep), pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - go-around - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The student pilot completed a simulated forced landing to a grass airstrip and then initiated a go-around. The airplane was climbing through 1,000 feet when the student's instructor again simulated an engine failure, and the student made an approach to a field. The flight instructor stated that the field selected by the student contained a ridgeline, and subsequently, he instructed the student to land in a suitable field adjacent to the ridgeline. The approach was accomplished with the carburetor heat on and the flaps retracted. The airplane was descending through 50 feet agl when the sink rate began to increase. The flight instructor advanced the throttle to full-power, turned the carburetor heat off, and initiated a go-around; however, a climb was not attained. Subsequently, the left wing contacted trees, and the airplane impacted the ground. The flight instructor reported that he had been ill during the day prior to the accident and had not slept during the night previous to the accident. He further reported that the accident could have been prevented by initiating recovery from the simulated forced landing at a higher altitude. ## Factual narrative On January 26, 2002, at 1000 central standard time, a Cessna 152 single-engine airplane, N47802, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a simulated forced landing near Ardmore, Oklahoma. The airplane was registered to and operated by Versatile Aviation Inc., of Ardmore, Oklahoma. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local flight originated from the Ardmore Downtown Executive Airport, Ardmore, Oklahoma, at 0950. According to the flight instructor, the airplane was at 4,500 feet msl when he reduced the throttle to idle to simulate an engine failure. The student accomplished the emergency procedures for a simulated forced landing to a grass airstrip. The airplane touched down on the grass airstrip, and the flight instructor instructed the student to go-around. The student established the airplane in a climb; however, the pitch attitude was "too steep and the flight instructor corrected the control inputs to prevent a stall." The airplane was climbing through 1,000 feet when the instructor reduced the throttle to idle. The student again accomplished the emergency procedures for an engine failure and made an approach to a field. The flight instructor stated that the field selected by the student contained a ridgeline, and subsequently, he instructed the student to land in a suitable field adjacent to the ridgeline. The approach was accomplished with the carburetor heat on and the flaps retracted. The airplane was descending through 50 feet agl when the sink rate began to increase. The flight instructor advanced the throttle to full-power, turned the carburetor heat off, and initiated a go-around; however, a climb was not attained. Subsequently, the left wing contacted trees, and the airplane impacted the ground. Both wings were structurally damaged during the impact. The flight instructor added that the engine was developing full power during the attempted go-around. The flight instructor reported that he had been ill during the day prior to the accident and had not slept during the night previous to the accident. The flight instructor reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), in the section "Recommendation (How could this accident have been prevented?)," that he could have initiated power for the recovery before getting so low on the approach or he could have executed a full-stop landing. He also reported that he could have cancelled the flight due to his lack of sleep. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47802](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47802-2017-06-07), registration cancelled 2017-06-07, S/N 15283252, built 1979 (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: 15283252 - Airframe hours: 11254 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Versatile Avation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 12, 2001, 98 hours before - Departed: 1F0, Ardmore, OK - Destination: 1F0 - Airport: 1F1, Lake Murray State Park, runway 14, 2,500 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 48; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 15, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 2,015 total, 900 in this make and model, 1,930 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 63; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 140 total, 140 in this make and model, 44 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 56 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 5 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: ADM, 3 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 20020126000359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020126000359A), Jan 26, 2002: Cessna 152, Ardmore, OK, Substantial damage. (.19) On January 26, 2002, at 0915 central standard time, a Cessna 152 single engine airplane, N47802, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain… ## Other investigations on N47802 (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW86LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86LA123), Jul 7, 1986: Cessna 152 (N47802), Porum, OK, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54086. 539 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 539 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381333&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.