- Date
- February 28, 2002, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place
- Marion, SC
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N1915VCessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 21, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Columbia SC
- FAA report
- 20020228005259A
- Case key
- 54281
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of engine power during takeoff/initial climb due to undetermined reasons, resulting in a landing on unsuitable terrain.
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.
Analysis
The pilot stated that as she was taking off, while at an altitude of about 500 feet, she noticed a large drop in power. She said that with full power applied, the aircraft engine "surged a couple of times", and she executed a forced landing to an open field, during which the aircraft was damaged. An FAA certificated airframe and powerplant mechanic, with an inspection authorization stated to the NTSB that he examined the accident airplane and found no anomalies with the aircraft's fuel, ignition and induction systems. The mechanic further stated that he also performed a test run on the engine, operating it to about 1,700 rpms and it functioned normally.
Factual narrative
On February 28, 2002, about 1315 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172, N1915V, registered to, and operated by Euphoria Limited, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed while attempting a forced landing following loss of engine power during takeoff from Marion, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot, sole occupant of the aircraft, received minor injuries, and the aircraft incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that she had flown to Marion Airport, and had performed a few touch-and-go landings, followed by a full stop landing. She stated that as she was taking off to fly back to Elizabethtown, while at an altitude of about 500 feet, she noticed a large drop in power. She said that with full power applied, the aircraft engine "surged a couple of times", and she executed a forced landing to an open field, during which the aircraft incurred damage to the airframe.
An FAA certificated airframe and powerplant mechanic, with an inspection authorization rating, stated to the NTSB that he examined the accident airplane and found no anomalies with the aircraft's fuel, ignition and induction systems. In addition, the mechanic stated that he performed a "test run" on the engine, operating it to about 1,700 rpms, and it functioned normally.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1915V
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17263793
- Airframe hours
- 726.5
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Euphoria Ltd/Carol Moore
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 2001 · 11.5 hours before
- Departed
- MAO · Marion, SC
- Destination
- 4WI · Elizabethtown, NC
- Airport
- MAO · Marion County Airport
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
- 60
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- July 4, 2001
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 605 total · 230 in this make and model · 321 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 7 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.27 inHg
- Observed at
- FAY, 55 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2002, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 548 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.