# NTSB FTW94LA007: Cessna 152, N68108, San Angelo, TX, October 6, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 6, 1993, 14:44 local (19:44 UTC) - Place: San Angelo, TX - Coordinates: 31.279245, -100.41072 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2792&lon=-100.4107&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18950 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18950/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA007 ## Probable cause WAS MALFUNCTION OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL PUSH/PULL ROD AND CABLE. A FACTOR WAS UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - vfr pattern - base turn - throttle/power lever,push/pull rod - bent (cause) - throttle/power lever,cable - bent (cause) - throttle/power lever,cable - binding(mechanical) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis AS THE PILOT WAS TURNING ONTO BASE LEG THE TOWER CONTROLLER REQUESTED HE MAKE A 270 DEGREE TURN TO ACCOMMODATE LANDING TRAFFIC. WHEN THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ADD POWER THE THROTTLE WOULD NOT MOVE. SINCE THE AIRPLANE WAS BEYOND GLIDING DISTANCE TO THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. DURING THE LANDING THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES. AN INSPECTION OF THE THROTTLE MECHANISM REVEALED THAT THE CONTROL SHAFT AND CABLE WERE BENT NEAR WHERE THEY ATTACHED TO EACH OTHER. IT WAS ALSO DETERMINED THAT THE SPRING CASING WAS STRETCHED 1.5 INCHES AT THE THROTTLE SHAFT HOUSING AND THAT CABLE MOVEMENT WAS STIFF. ## Factual narrative On October 6, 1993, approximately 1444 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N68108, was destroyed during a forced landing about three miles north of Mathis Field, San Angelo, Texas. The student pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight. The following is based on the Pilot/Operator report. Prior to takeoff, the pilot noted no difficulty in throttle movement. As he was turning onto base leg for a landing approach, the tower controller requested he make a 270 degree turn to accommodate landing traffic. He complied, but when he attempted to add power, he found the throttle control would not move. Since the airplane was at an altitude approximately 500 feet above the ground and beyond gliding distance to the airport, the pilot was forced to land on a road in a residential area. After landing the pilot maneuvered the airplane between and into two mesquite trees to avoid a telephone pole and guy wires. Damage was sustained by the wings, tail, and cockpit. The throttle control rod, cable, and sleeve were later examined by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector at the Cessna Aircraft Company. Examination revealed that the throttle cable and the shaft were bent and that movement was stiff. Results of the examination are enclosed in the report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68108](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68108-1994-06-27), registration cancelled 1994-06-27, S/N 15282135 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15282135 - Airframe hours: 5189 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Southwest Air Center, doing business as Angelo Aero - Registered owner: Jackson, Clay H. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, October 5, 1993, 1 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 17 total, 15 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 13 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SJT, 2 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 19931006038619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931006038619A), Oct 6, 1993: Cessna 152, San Angelo, TX, Destroyed. Turning base. Tower advised 360 for traffic. Throttle jammed. Landed on road. Hit trees. Shaft and cable were bent. 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.