# NTSB FTW99LA064: Cessna 152, N46285, Bowie, TX, December 31, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 31, 1998, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Bowie, TX - Coordinates: 33.549953, -97.839744 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5500&lon=-97.8397&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45567 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45567/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA064 ## Probable cause The hard landing due to the flight instructor's delayed remedial action to take control of the airplane when the engine lost power. Factors were the loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, and the rough and uneven terrain. ## 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 (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis The engine lost power during the takeoff portion of a touch and go landing during an instrument training flight. The airplane landed hard in rough and uneven terrain, nosed over, and came to rest in the inverted position. The flight instructor reported that prior to the accident, he and his student had been executing practice instrument approaches under their own navigation, while in VFR conditions. The 1,800-hour flight instructor reported that during the initial takeoff climb, they heard a different engine sound and noticed a drop in engine RPM. The flight instructor assumed the controls of the airplane and lowered the nose. The engine ran normally after he lowered the nose; however, he was too low to recover. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On December 31, 1998, at 1730 central standard time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N46285, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during initial takeoff climb near Bowie, Texas. The flight instructor and the private pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by Aer Mistral, Inc., of Fort Worth, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from the Meacham International Airport, near Fort Worth, Texas, one hour and 42 minutes prior to the accident. In the enclosed NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the operator reported that the fuel tanks were topped off with 16.9 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel prior to being dispatched to the local training area for an instrument training flight. The flight instructor reported that prior to the accident, he and his student had been executing practice instrument NDB approaches to the Bowie Municipal Airport under their own navigation, while in VFR conditions. The approaches were terminated with touch and go landings. The operator reported that the engine lost power during takeoff from runway 35. He added that the pilot "pitched nose down to avoid a stall." Subsequently, the airplane landed on rough and uneven terrain, nosed over, and came to rest in the inverted position approximately 10 to 15 feet from the west edge of the runway. The flight instructor reported that during initial takeoff climb, he and his student "heard a different engine sound and saw the RPM drop." The flight instructor added that he assumed the controls of the airplane and "put the nose down." As soon as the flight instructor lowered the nose of the airplane, the engine sounded normal again; however, he was too low to recover and the nose landing gear impacted the ground. The airport manager stated that the pilot never reported his position or intentions on the operational Unicom frequency. An eyewitness at the airport reported that the airplane landed hard in "rough and uneven terrain approximately 300 feet to the west of runway 35 abeam the numbers." The witness added that the airplane "did not roll much more than 50 feet before it flipped over on its back. " The 1,800 hour flight instructor and the operator failed to report the mishap to the NTSB or any other agency. The operator recovered the wreckage of the airplane to his maintenance facility in Fort Worth the day after the accident. The flight instructor stated that after his initial examination of the airplane at the accident site, he evaluated the damage incurred to the airplane as "minor." An FAA inspector examined the wreckage at the operator's maintenance facility. His examination confirmed that both wings and the fuselage sustained structural damage. Cylinder compression was checked, and engine continuity was established to the valve train and the accessory case. Electrical continuity to both magnetos was established. Evidence of fuel was found in the carburetor, gascolator, fuel lines, and fuel cells. No pre-existing engine deficiencies were noted and the investigation was not able to determine the reason for the reported loss of engine power. The airport manager reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from the north at 5 to 7 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46285](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46285-2015-05-11), registration cancelled 2015-05-11, S/N 15283028, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 152-83028 - Airframe hours: 16490 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Marco Carusso - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 3, 1998, 75 hours before - Departed: FTW, FORT WORTH, TX - Airport: 0F2, Bowie Municipal, runway 35, 3,603 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,800 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 1,750 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 7 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °F ## 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 19981231044939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981231044939A), Dec 31, 1998: Cessna 152, Bowie, TX, Substantial damage. (.19) On December 31, 1998, at 1720 central standard time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N46285, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of… ## Other investigations on N46285 (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW93LA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA142), May 3, 1993: Cessna 152 (N46285), Waco, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE STUDENTS PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM AN OBJECT AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT 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.