MIA00LA076

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150L · Statesboro, GA · January 27, 2000

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
January 27, 2000, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
Place
Statesboro, GA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N11567Cessna 150L
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 4, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20000127004569A
Case key
48548

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The partial loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons and unsuitable terrain encountered by the pilot-in-command (CFI), during the 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.

Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanicalTakeoff - initial climb
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterEmergency descent/landing
Unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encounteredPilot in command(cfi)Cause
Terrain condition - swampy
Stall - intentionalPilot in command(cfi)

Analysis

The student completed airwork then the flight proceeded to an airport near the departure airport to perform touch-and-go landings. The first approach and landing by the student were uneventful; full power was applied and a climb was initiated. At 100 feet agl, the CFI later reported that the engine began to run rough and lost power. The CFI took the controls from the student and landed on the runway. With insufficient runway remaining to stop and obstructions and downsloping terrain ahead, the CFI applied full power; the engine only partially responded. He then intentionally stalled the airplane into a marsh. Following recovery of the airplane and replacement of the damaged propeller and bypassing of an impact damaged fuel line, the engine was started in the presence of an FAA inspector and found to operate rough and backfire at 1,700 rpm. The engine was secured then started again and found to operate normally; no backfiring was noted at 1,700 rpm.

Factual narrative

On January 27, 2000, about 1630 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150L, N11567, registered to and operated by Carolina Flight Institute, Inc., collided with terrain during a forced landing shortly after takeoff from the Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport, Statesboro, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured. The flight originated about 1600, from the Plantation Airpark Airport, Sylvania, Georgia.

The flight departed with full fuel tanks and the CFI stated that after takeoff, the student performed airwork then proceeded to the Statesboro Airport where the flight entered the traffic pattern to perform touch-and-go landings. The first approach and landing were uneventful; the student applied full power to takeoff. During the climb out about 100 feet above ground level, the engine began to run rough, backfire, and, "...we lost almost all our power." The CFI took the controls and verified that the mixture, carburetor heat, and throttle were full forward, applied full flaps, and landed on the runway. With insufficient runway remaining to stop the airplane and obstructions and a downsloping embankment ahead, the CFI applied full throttle; the engine only partially responded. He then intentionally stalled the airplane into a marsh where the airplane came to rest upright.

After recovery of the airplane, the damaged propeller was removed and a serviceable propeller listed in the airplane type certificate data sheet was installed. An impact damaged fuel line at the gascolator was bypassed but the remainder of the fuel delivery system was used. The engine was started in the presence of an FAA inspector and was noted to run rough during engine warm-up. During the magneto check at 1,700 rpm, engine backfiring and loss of engine power was noted. The engine was then secured and started again. During the second run, no discrepancies were noted; the engine ran smooth at 1,700 rpm.

Aircraft

Registration
N11567
Reported as
Cessna 150L
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15075527
Airframe hours
7,217
Engine
Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Carolina Flight Institute, Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · January 23, 2000 · 2 hours before
Departed
JYL · Sylvania, GA
Destination
TBR
Airport
TBR · Statesboro-Bulloch County, runway 32, 5,502 × 100 ft, asphalt

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
31
Certificates
Commercial, Airline transport, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Right
Flight hours
6,300 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 6,200 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 3 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
45 °F, dew point 12 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
SAV, 35 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.

Other investigations on N11567 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.