# NTSB FTW97LA098: Cessna 172E, N5598T, Waxahachie, TX, February 1, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 1, 1997, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Waxahachie, TX - Coordinates: 32.40089, -96.849006 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4009&lon=-96.8490&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20156 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20156/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA098 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factors was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The flight instructor and his student were practicing touch and go landings. During climb out from the second touch and go, the instructor pilot informed the student that he 'had a simulated engine failure', and then reduced the throttle. After the student turned toward a field, the instructor increased the throttle, but the aircraft 'developed an excessive sink.' After the instructor maneuvered to avoid trees the aircraft impacted the ground. The instructor pilot reported that he did not have 'very much time' to set up for the forced landing due to the low altitude and close proximity to trees. He added that two pilots who flew the aircraft in the past told him that they had experienced 'similar' intermittent power loss problems with the aircraft. After these events, mechanical examinations of the engine by the airframe and powerplant certificated instructor pilot did not reveal any defects. During an examination of the engine, throttle and mixture linkages were intact and revealed no defects. After cleaning mud deposits from the carburetor body (impact related), the engine was operated successfully while still mounted in the airframe. The reported power loss could not be duplicated. ## Factual narrative On February 1, 1997, at 1700 central standard time, a Cessna 172E, N5598T, registered to and owned by the pilot, was destroyed upon impacting terrain shortly after take off near Waxahachie, Texas. The certified flight instructor and student pilot received minor injuries. The instructional flight was being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported to the investigator-in-charge, that he and his student were practicing touch and go landings at O'Brian Airport, Waxahachie, Texas. During climb out from the second touch and go, the instructor pilot informed the student that he "had a simulated engine failure", and then reduced the throttle. After the student turned toward a field, the instructor increased the throttle, but the aircraft "developed an excessive sink." After the instructor maneuvered to avoid trees the aircraft impacted the ground. The instructor pilot reported that he did not have "very much time" to set up for the forced landing due to the low altitude and close proximity to trees. He added that two pilots who flew the aircraft in the past told him that they had experienced "similar" intermittent power loss problems with the aircraft. After these events, mechanical examinations of the engine by the airframe and powerplant certificated instructor pilot did not reveal any defects. The aircraft wreckage was recovered to Northwest Regional Airport, Dallas, Texas, where an engine examination was conducted under the supervision of an FAA inspector. Throttle and mixture linkages were intact and revealed no defects. After cleaning mud deposits from the carburetor body (impact related), the engine was operated successfully while still mounted in the airframe. The reported power loss could not be duplicated. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5598T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5598T-1999-08-13), registration cancelled 1999-08-13, S/N 17251498 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172E - Registry model: [Cessna 172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (registry code 2072412) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17251498 - Airframe hours: 1785 - Engines: Continental O-300-D reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gary D. Jenkins - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 3, 1996, 50 hours before - Departed: F25 - Destination: GPM, GRAND PRARIE, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 5,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 12 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19970201001089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970201001089A), Feb 1, 1997: Cessna 172E, Waxahachie, TX, Destroyed. Aircraft lost power on takeoff and crashed in a field. (-23) during climb out from a touch and go landing, the instructor initiated a simulated "engine out" by… 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.