# NTSB MIA08CA171: Cessna 152, N65436, Ormond Beach, FL, August 23, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 23, 2008, 10:34 local (14:34 UTC) - Place: Ormond Beach, FL - Coordinates: 29.300556, -81.113609 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3006&lon=-81.1136&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68773 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08CA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68773/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08CA171 ## Probable cause Both pilots' inadequate preflight inspection of the fuel. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and student pilot of the Cessna 152 found water in the fuel tanks during the preflight inspection. Large amounts of fuel had to be sumped to ensure all the water was removed. Their 1-hour instructional flight was uneventful. They returned to the departing airport, landed and took a short break from flying. They then returned to the airplane to continue the instructional training of touch-and-go landings. The fuel system was not sumped before the second flight. During the initial climb after the first touch-and-go, the engine lost all power about 300 feet above the ground. The flight instructor took over control of the airplane and landed on a golf course fairway, striking trees before coming to a stop. Postcrash examination revealed 6 ounces of water in the gascolator and the right fuel tank cap had indication of leaking and infiltration. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor of the Cessna 152 stated to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that during the preflight inspection, he and the student pilot found water in the fuel tanks when sumped. They continued draining the fuel until no water was found in the fuel samples obtained from the wing tank and gascolator. Their 1-hour instructional flight was uneventful. They returned to the departing airport, landed and took a short break from flying. The instructor and student pilot returned to the airplane to continue training, and were going to stay in the traffic pattern of the airport. The fuel system was not sumped before the second flight. During the initial climb after the first touch-and-go, the engine lost all power about 300 feet above the ground. The flight instructor took over control of the airplane and elected to land on a golf course fairway adjacent to the airport. The airplane touched down on the fairway, striking trees before coming to a stop. During the on-scene examination of the wreckage by FAA inspectors, 6 ounces of water was removed from the gascolator. The right fuel tank cap had stains consistent with leaking and possible infiltration into the fuel tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N65436](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65436-2014-12-16), registration cancelled 2014-12-16, S/N 15281551, 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: 15281551 - Airframe hours: 10508 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Ormond Beach Aviation Inc. - Registered owner: Ormond Beach Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 8, 2008, 30 hours before - Departed: OMN, Ormond Beach, FL - Destination: OMN, Ormond Beach, FL - Airport: OMN, Ormond Beach Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 29; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 3, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 1,737 total, 310 in this make and model, 1,662 as pilot in command, 240 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 30; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 14 total, 14 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 8 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,700 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: OMN, 1 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 20080823855529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080823855529A), Aug 23, 2008: Cessna 152, Ormond Beach, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) During preflight inspection, student and flight instructor found water in the fuel samples of N65436. Student and instructor claimed that they continued… ## Other investigations on N65436 (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 ATL83LA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83LA265), Jul 9, 1983: Cessna 152 (N65436), Chattanooga, TN, substantial damage 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.