- Date
- May 11, 1996, 09:05 local (14:05 UTC)
- Place
- Springdale, AR
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N704RSCessna 150M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 23, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960511010269A
- Case key
- 19836
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 flight instructor's improper (unapproved) procedure of using the mixture control to simulate an engine failure. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for a 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.
Analysis
While practicing simulated engine out procedures, the flight instructor (CFI) 'pulled the mixture off to simulate [an] engine failure.' When the student pilot did not turn towards a field to land the airplane, the CFI took the controls and attempted unsuccessfully to restart the engine. During an approach for a forced landing in an open field, the airplane hit a barbed wire fence, damaging the left horizontal stabilizer, cowling, and fuselage. The airplane touched down 30 to 50 feet beyond the fence and came to a stop without further damage. After landing, the instructor 'restarted the engine to trouble-shoot, but found no trouble as it started immediately.' FAA publication AC 61-21A stated that the throttle should be used to simulate an engine failure.
Factual narrative
On May 11, 1996, at 0905 central daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N704RS, owned and operated by Bassett Flight Center, Inc., sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Springdale, Arkansas. The certificated flight instructor and his student were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The flight originated at Springdale Municipal Airport, Springdale, Arkansas, at 0825.
The flight instructor reported that, while practicing simulated engine out procedures, he had "pulled the mixture off to simulate [an] engine failure." When the student pilot did not turn towards a field to land the airplane, he took the controls and attempted unsuccessfully to restart the engine. During the approach to an open field, the airplane hit a barbed wire fence damaging the left horizontal stabilizer, cowling, and fuselage. The airplane touched down 30 to 50 feet beyond the fence and came to a stop without further damage. The flight instructor further reported that, after landing, "I restarted the engine to trouble-shoot, but found no trouble as it started immediately."
FAA publication AC 61-21A states in Chapter 9 - Landing Approaches and Landings\Emergency Approaches (simulated) that, "The instructor should give simulated forced landings by retarding the throttle and calling 'Simulated Forced Landing.'"
Aircraft
- Registration
- N704RS
- Reported as
- Cessna 150M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15078819
- Airframe hours
- 3,400
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Greg Bassett
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · February 1, 1996
- Departed
- ASG · AR
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
- 40
- Certificates
- Private, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,250 total · 50 in this make and model · 1,200 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N704RS · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.