NYC01LA188

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172P · Odenton, MD · July 25, 2001

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 25, 2001, 19:45 local (23:45 UTC)
Place
Odenton, MD
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N52266Cessna 172P
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Status
Completed · report January 2, 2002
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20010725028529A
Case key
52829

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

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

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 powerTakeoff - initial climb
Powerplant - undeterminedCause
Forced landingTakeoff - initial climb
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterEmergency landing after takeoff
Object - tree(s)
Object - fence

Analysis

During takeoff, when the airplane was about 200 feet above the ground, the engine experienced a partial loss of engine power and the pilot was not able to maintain altitude. The pilot performed a forced landing to a grass area northwest of the runway; however the airplane struck trees and a fence. Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any pre-impact failures. Fuel consistent with aviation gasoline was observed throughout the airplane's fuel system, and no evidence of contamination was noted. Additionally, the engine was started and ran uneventfully; however, due to damaged engine mounts, the rpm was not increased above 1,300. The temperature and dew point reported at a nearby airport, was 86 and 70 degrees F, respectively. A review of a carburetor icing probability chart, placed the reported temperature and dew point in the "serious icing at glide power" area of the chart; however, the pilot reported that the application carburetor heat after the partial loss of engine power did not effect the engine's performance.

Factual narrative

On July 25, 2001, about 1945 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N52266, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after takeoff from the Tipton Airport (FME), Odenton, Maryland. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the CFI, the flight originated at the Freeway Airport (W00), Mitchellville, Maryland, about 1830. Prior to takeoff, during the engine run-up, the CFI experienced rough engine operation during the magneto check; however, after the mixture was leaned, he did not experience any further problems. After takeoff, the student pilot performed some ground reference maneuvers, and they then proceeded to Tipton to practice landings and takeoffs. They performed a full stop landing about 1935, and then completed the after landing and pre-takeoff checklists.

During the subsequent takeoff from runway 28 at Tipton, when the airplane was about 200 feet above the ground, the engine experienced a partial loss of engine power. The application of carburetor heat did not have an effect on the engine's performance and the CFI was not able to maintain altitude. The CFI then performed a forced landing to a grassy area northwest of the runway; however, the airplane struck trees and a fence.

Examination of the airplane and engine by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector did not reveal any pre-impact failures. Fuel consistent with aviation gasoline was observed throughout the airplane's fuel system, and no evidence of contamination was noted. Additionally, the engine was started and ran uneventfully; however, due to damaged engine mounts, the rpm was not increased above 1,300.

The temperature and dew point reported at an airport about 8 miles northeast of Tipton, at 1954, was 86 and 70 degrees F, respectively. A review of a FAA carburetor icing probability chart placed the reported temperature and dew point in the "serious icing at glide power" area of the chart.

Aircraft

Registration
N52266
Reported as
Cessna 172P
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17274470
Airframe hours
6,424
Engine
Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Freeway Airport Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
Last inspection
100 hour · July 18, 2001 · 26 hours before
Departed
FME · Odenton, MD
Airport
FME · Tipton Aaf, runway 28, 3,000 × 75 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
38
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
May 29, 2001
Seat
Right
Flight hours
2,254 total · 700 in this make and model · 2,109 as pilot in command · 184 in the last 90 days · 116 in the last 30 days · 9 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Wind
210° at 8 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
25,000 ft broken
Temperature
86 °F, dew point 70 °F
Altimeter
29.88 inHg
Observed at
BWI, 8 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.