- Date
- October 31, 2002, 16:55 local (22:55 UTC)
- Place
- Porter, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N1317ECessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 13, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration (FSDO)
- FAA report
- 20021031031159A
- Case key
- 56057
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.
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.
Analysis
A CFI was giving a private pilot a biennial flight review. The private pilot demonstrated a short field takeoff, and while climbing through 500 feet agl, the flight instructor simulated an engine failure. According to the private pilot, he accomplished the restart procedures and at completion of the maneuver he went to advance the throttle; however, realized that the throttle was already at the full power position (full in), and that the mixture control was retarded. (The CFI stated that he retarded the throttle control to the idle position when he simulated the engine failure.) The private pilot then advanced the mixture control and the engine lost total power. The private pilot attempted to restart the engine; however, was unsuccessful. A forced landing was executed to a field 3/4 mile from the departure airport, during which the airplane contacted power lines, and subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground.
Factual narrative
On October 31, 2002, at 1655 central standard time, a Cessna 172N single-engine airplane, N1317E, was substantially damaged when it impacted wires and terrain during a forced landing following a complete loss of engine power during initial takeoff climb from the Williams Airport (9X1), Porter, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot receiving instruction. The certified flight instructor (CFI) sustained minor injuries and private pilot receiving instruction was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to the CFI and private pilot, the CFI was giving the private pilot a biennial flight review. The private pilot stated that his preflight inspection and pre-takeoff engine run-up did not reveal any anomalies. The pilot demonstrated a short field takeoff, and while climbing through 500 feet agl, the flight instructor simulated an engine failure. According to the private pilot, he accomplished the restart procedures and at completion of the maneuver the private went to advance the throttle; however, realized that the throttle was already at the full power position (full in), and that the mixture control was retarded. (The CFI stated that he retarded the throttle control to the idle position when he simulated the engine failure.) The private pilot then advanced the mixture control and the engine lost total power. The private pilot attempted to restart the engine; however, was unsuccessful. A forced landing was executed to a soccer field 3/4 mile from 9X1, during which the airplane contacted power lines, and subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground.
An FAA inspector, who examined the airplane, reported that the right wing was structurally damaged and the engine firewall was damaged.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1317E
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17270952
- Airframe hours
- 6,526.6
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Richard J. Lemcool Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 8, 2002
- Departed
- 9X1 · Porter, 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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 40
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- March 31, 2002
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 872 total · 120 in this make and model · 760 as pilot in command · 26 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- November 3, 2000
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 209 total · 140 in this make and model · 153 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 13,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- IAH, 9 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.