FTW95LA225

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152 · Guthrie, OK · June 4, 1995

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 4, 1995, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
Place
Guthrie, OK
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N5134BCessna 152
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 27, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19950604014519A
Case key
19441

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 loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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 engine power(total) - nonmechanicalTakeoff - initial climb
Fluid,fuel - contamination,waterCause
Forced landingEmergency landing after takeoff
In flight collision with objectEmergency landing after takeoff
Terrain condition - none suitableFactor
Object - tree(s)
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

Shortly after takeoff for the dual instructional flight, the engine lost power and the flight instructor attempted to land in a field straight ahead. Prior to touchdown, the airplane's right wing struck a tree and the airplane spun around impacting the ground tail first on a heading opposite to the flight path. The instructor reported draining 'an excessive amount of water' from the left fuel tank during the preflight. He further reported draining the tank 'persistently until it seemed clear of water.' Following the accident, approximately one quart of water was drained from the gascolator and the left fuel tank.

Factual narrative

On June 4, 1995, at 1500 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N5134B, collided with a tree during a forced landing near Guthrie, Oklahoma. The flight instructor and his student were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. No flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted by Crabtree Aircraft Co., Inc., under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight which was originating when the accident occurred.

According to the flight instructor, the engine lost power at about 150 feet above the ground during the initial climb after takeoff on runway 16 at the Guthrie Municipal Airport. He attempted to land in a field straight ahead, however, prior to touchdown, the airplane's right wing struck a tree. The airplane impacted the ground tail first on a heading opposite the flight path. Both wings were bent aft and the fuselage was partially severed aft of the baggage compartment.

The flight instructor reported that "an excessive amount of water" was drained from the left fuel tank during the preflight. He further reported that he drained the tank "persistently until it seemed clear of water." Following the accident, the operator drained approximately one quart of water from the gascolator and the left fuel tank.

Aircraft

Registration
N5134B
Reported as
Cessna 152
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15283770
Airframe hours
8,860
Engine
Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Crabtree Aircraft Co, Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · May 25, 1995 · 15 hours before
Departed
GOK
Airport
GOK · Guthrie Municipal

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
22
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Right
Flight hours
1,450 total · 600 in this make and model · 1,250 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
180° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
5,000 ft broken
Temperature
70 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.