# NTSB IAD97LA041: Cessna 152, N68304, Blue Bell, PA, January 9, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 9, 1997, 10:04 local (15:04 UTC) - Place: Blue Bell, PA - Coordinates: 40.139736, -75.259483 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1397&lon=-75.2595&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 21, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28172 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD97LA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28172/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA041 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate handling of the airplane and failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall, and collision with the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - aircraft handling - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - swampy ## Analysis The flight instructor (CFI) was demonstrating a soft field takeoff on runway 6 to a student pilot, and attempted to demonstrate an early rotation at 45-50 knots. He raised the nose higher than a normal pitch attitude, and as the stall warning horn sounded, he lowered the pitch, but the airplane rolled to the left. The CFI reduced power, neutralized ailerons, applied right rudder, lowered the nose, and the airplane recovered; however, the airplane was heading towards trees. The CFI reapplied power, but the airplane rolled to the left, struck the ground, and nosed over. Witnesses observed the airplane with a high nose attitude just before it impacted the ground. Another CFI, who had flown the airplane, stated that during a power on/off demonstration flight, the airplane required 2,200 feet of altitude to recover. According to the police, the pilot said the airplane had taken off in a northeasterly direction, and the airplane was about 20 feet above the runway. He said the climb angle was about 15-17 degrees. The airplane's maintenance records revealed that on 5/20/96, an entry for a right rolling tendency was recorded and signed off by a mechanic as, 'checked aileron rigging within limits.' There was no record of the airplane being test flown after the write up. Post-accident examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector, revealed control continuity to all flight controls. ## Factual narrative On January 9, 1997, at 1004 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N68304, was substantially damaged when it collided with the ground during initial climb at Wings Field Airport, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. The certificated flight instructor and student pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local, instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the certified flight instructor, he demonstrated a soft field takeoff on runway 6 and attempted to demonstrate an early rotation with a pitch attitude of 15-17 degrees above the horizon, at an indicated airspeed (IAS) of about 45-50 knots. The pilot further stated: "...I raised the nose higher than a normal pitch attitude for takeoff, with the stall horn beginning to sound (7-10 kts before a stall P.O.H.) at 45 IAS, I began to lower the pitch attitude noticing airspeed was 45 IAS...At this time, the aircraft began a violent roll to the left...I initiated a spin recovery of: 1) power idle, 2) ailerons neutral, 3) application of rudder opposite to the rotation, 4) lower the nose. The aircraft recovered...heading towards trees, with ample distance to climb, I reapplied power to full...the aircraft seemed as if was hovering in place, but slowly accelerating. At that time, the aircraft unexpectedly began another violent roll to the left. I initiated the same four steps mentioned above, but only lowered the nose slightly (1-2 degrees) knowing the close proximity of the ground... ." The airplane struck the marshy ground and nosed over. Several witnesses observed the airplane as it was taking off. They reported that the airplane was climbing in a steeper than normal angle. One witness said the airplane continued its climb in the same position until it almost stopped in mid-flight, the left wing dipped, and the airplane started to dive into the ground. The witness said just before the nose hit the ground, the wings were level. A flight instructor who had flown N68304 with a student, said that during a power on/off stalls demonstration flight, the airplane "snapped to the left real sharp." He said that when he initiated the maneuver at an altitude of 3,200 feet MSL, completed the recovery at 1,000 feet MSL. According to the Whitpain Township Police Department, the pilot had just taken off in a northeasterly direction, and the airplane was approximately 20 feet above the runway. The airplane was in the process of accelerating, and the pilot had initiated a climb at an angle of about 15-17 degrees. An examination of the airplane's maintenance records revealed that on May 20, 1996, an entry for a right rolling tendency was recorded and signed off by a mechanic as, "checked aileron rigging within limits." There was no record of the airplane being test flown after the write up. Examination of the wreckage by the FAA revealed control continuity to all flight controls. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68304](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68304-1997-04-17), registration cancelled 1997-04-17, S/N 15282242 (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: 15282242 - Airframe hours: 9504 - Engines: Lycoming 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Pennsylvania Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 21, 1996, 81 hours before - Departed: N67 - Airport: N67, Wings Field, runway 6, 2,625 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,879 total, 1,325 in this make and model, 1,711 as pilot in command, 251 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 3 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: NXX, 7 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 19970109000289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970109000289A), Jan 9, 1997: Cessna 152, Blue Bell, PA, Substantial damage. Aircraft stalled after takeoff, landed in a field next to airport. 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.