MIA00FA201

The student pilot stated that it had been his third flight lesson, and his first in a Cessna 152 since he did not want to pay the extra $20.00 to fly the remaining 180 horsepower Cessna 172. The student stated that the aircraft tanks he believed the fuel tanks had been topped off, and that during the takeoff/initial climb, the aircraft got to an altitude of about 50 to 100 ft, and seemed as if it did not have enough power to fly. He said the engine did not malfunction in any way, was developing the proper "rpms", and had a normal engine sound, but that the airplane just seemed as if it did not have enough power to fly. He said that his instructor immediately took control and turned the aircraft back toward the airport, but as they were in the turn, the last thing he remembered was the stall warning horn going off after the turn had been initiated, just before they dropped. Witnesses to the accident confirmed that the aircraft engine was operating at the time of impact, and postaccident examination of the aircraft and engine did not reveal any mechanical failure or malfunction to the aircraft or any on its systems. The flaps were confirmed to be at set at 20 degrees, and a postaccident analysis revealed that the aircraft weighed about 1,713 lbs, and that the computed density altitude at the time of the accident, was about 2,000 feet. In addition, two propeller slash marks at the scene, 14 inches apart, indicated a ground speed of about 41 knots, and an engine speed of about 1,774 rpms at impact.

History of flight

On July 4, 2000, about 0750 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N89043, registered to and operated by SDS Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, crashed during takeoff/initial climb from Murfreesboro Municipal Airport, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated flight instructor was fatally injured, and the student received serious injuries. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The airplane crashed on the front lawn of the residence located at 1718 Dover Street, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The aircraft had departed from the Murfreesboro Municipal Airport where it had taken off on runway 18. The student pilot in the accident airplane stated that it had been a normal day, and they had performed the preflight, and then proceeded to takeoff. He said that the only unusual event was that during the engine "runup", as they performed the magneto check, one magneto indicated a lower than acceptable reading, and they diagnosed the cause as due to the spark plug being fowled. He said they performed a procedure where they held the brakes and increased the power for about 30 to 45 seconds. He said they then performed another magneto check, and the rpm "drops" were in the correct range. According to the student, he performed the takeoff, and the aircraft got about 50 to 100 feet in the air, and appeared as if it did not have enough power to fly. He said that the aircraft engine was not operating rough, nor had it ever sputtered or displayed any problems, but the airplane just was not climbing, and seemed as if it did not have enough power to fly. He said that his instructor immediately took over the duties of the pilot flying, and turned the aircraft back toward the airport or possibly to the nearby ball field. The student said throughout the whole flight the engine "rpms" were correct, and the engine noises were normal. The student said that as they were executing the turn back to the airport, the last thing he remembered was the stall warning horn going off after the turn was initiated, and just before they dropped.

The student stated that it had been his fourth flight lesson, and the three prior lessons had been in a Cessna 172. He said that there had been a scheduling conflict with the aircraft he normally flew, and that the flight school had a total of three airplanes, two Cessna 172s and one Cessna 152, and the one he usually flew was the 160-horsepower Cessna 172. He said there was a 180-horsepower Cessna 172 available, but he did not want to pay the extra $20.00 to rent it for the lesson. He stated that he and his instructor did not discuss weight and balance, or aircraft performance in preparation to the lesson, and at the time of the flight the aircraft had been topped off with fuel. He also said that at the time of the accident he weighed 194 pounds, and he believed that his instructor weighed about 175 to 185 pounds. According to the student the only additional weight that they had in the cabin was his logbook, and the instructor's small backpack, which contained his logbook and headphones.

A witness on the ground stated that the airplane took off to the south, and the engine sounded as if it was laboring during the climb. The witness further stated that it appeared as if the airplane was not gaining altitude. According to the witness, the airplane leveled off, and entered a hard right hand turn and the engine sputtered, almost as if it started and stopped, but the witness said he could not be sure if it actually stopped. According to the witness, as the airplane was in the bank it leveled out slightly, ad somehow missed the trees, and headed in the direction of the ball field. The witness said he was certain the engine was operating when it crashed.

A student pilot, taxiing an airplane about midfield on the airport, said that he noticed the accident airplane lift off at about the 3/4 length of the runway. According to the student, it was slow, at an altitude of about 100 feet, and was not climbing any higher. The student further stated that he saw the nose pitch up, and then lower. The student said that the airplane then entered a shallow turn to the right, and heard a voice on the Unicom frequency say that he had an emergency and was turning back to land on runway 36. The student said he lost sight of the airplane as it went behind trees.

Personnel information

Records obtained from the operator confirmed that the flight, during which the accident occurred, had been the student pilot's fourth flight lesson. The student's logbook indicated that he had accumulated a total of 3.3 flight hours, commencing with his first flight on June 19, 2000. At the time of the accident, the student did not yet possess a student pilot certificate, and was being given primary flight instruction by the flight instructor.

Records obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showed that the flight instructor held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single and multiengine land instrument ratings, issued on May 4, 1999. The flight instructor also held a flight instructor certificate with an airplane single engine land rating, last issued on March 7, 2000, as well as a second-class medical certificate, last issued on April 30, 1998. The flight instructor had accumulated about 482 total flight hours, with about 100 of flight instruction given. Within the last 90 days the flight instructor had flown about 79 hours, and within the last 30 days he had flown about 33 hours.

Aircraft information

N89043 is a 1978 model Cessna 152, serial number 15282607, registered to SDS INC., Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and it had received an annual inspection on February 15, 2000. On April 3, 2000, the aircraft received its last 100-hour inspection prior to the accident. The aircraft had accumulated a total of 3,603.3 hours on the airframe.

The aircraft was equipped with a 110-horsepower, Lycoming O-235-L2C engine, serial number L-14656-15. The engine had accumulated 85.7 hours since inspection, and a total of 1604.9 hours since overhaul. The aircraft was equipped with a McCauley propeller, whose model number was TCM6958, and whose serial number was FH014.

Weight and balance

At the time of the accident the airplane was estimated to weigh about 1,713 pounds, and the center of gravity was estimated to be at 33.12 inches aft of datum. It is estimated that the airplane contained 24.5 gallons of fuel at the time of the accident.

According to the Aircraft information handbook, the maximum allowable weight for the airplane is 1,670 lbs. The forward center of gravity limit is 31.0 inches aft of datum at 1,350 pounds or less, with straight-line variation to 32.65 inches aft of datum at 1,670 pounds. The aft center of gravity limit is 36.5 inches aft of datum at all weights.

Meteorological information

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The Murfreesboro Municipal Airport 0800 surface weather observation was sky clear, visibility 10 statute miles, wind from 220 degrees at 3 knots, temperature 81 degrees F, dew point temperature 71 degrees F, altimeter setting 30.11 inHg.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Examination of the accident scene revealed that the aircraft had scraped the right front portion of the roof of the house next door at 1714 Dover Street, and had broken small branches off a tree, which grew at the edge of the house, prior to impacting the lawn at 1718 Dover Street. The aircraft came to rest on a heading of 140 degrees magnetic. There were propeller slash marks, 14 inches apart, on the grass, along with a small impact crater, and the angle of incidence along the descent path was about 45 degrees nose-down attitude. Prior to the aircraft coming to rest, it had spun around, and was facing in a direction nearly opposite to t