# NTSB NYC02LA154: Cessna 152, N89044, Danbury, CT, August 5, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 5, 2002, 19:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Danbury, CT - Coordinates: 41.371387, -73.481941 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3714&lon=-73.4819&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 17, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 55394 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55394/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA154 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain airspeed and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in an inadvertent stall during a simulated forced landing. A factor was the rising terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, dual student (cause) - stall - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The student pilot was in the traffic pattern practicing touch and go landings, when the flight instructor reduced the engine power to idle to simulate an engine failure. While the student pilot was maneuvering, the airplane "stalled to the left." The CFI assumed control of the airplane; however, the airplane struck trees about 1/2 mile from the runway. The CFI added that he did not hear the airplane's stall warning horn annunciate at any time during the accident sequence. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. The airplane's stall warning system functioned normally during post accident testing. The terrain at the accident site sloped upward. ## Factual narrative On August 5, 2002, about 1945 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N89044, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees during a simulated forced landing in Danbury, Connecticut. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the instructional flight that departed the Danbury Municipal Airport (DXR), Danbury, Connecticut. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. During an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the CFI stated that the airplane was in the traffic pattern for runway 26, at DXR, and the student pilot was practicing touch and go landings. When the airplane was at an altitude of about 1,200 feet, the CFI reduced the engine power to idle, to simulate an engine failure. While the student pilot was maneuvering, the airplane "stalled to the left." The CFI assumed control of the airplane; however, the airplane struck trees about 1/2 mile from the runway. The CFI added that he did not hear the airplane's stall warning horn annunciate at any time during the accident sequence. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. The airplane's stall warning system functioned normally during post accident testing. Additionally, the inspector noted that the terrain at the accident site sloped upward. Winds reported at the airport around the time of the accident were calm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N89044](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89044-2006-01-09), registration cancelled 2006-01-09, S/N 15282608, 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: 15282608 - Airframe hours: 7261 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: North American Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 17, 2002, 37 hours before - Departed: DXR, Danbury, CT - Destination: DXR, Danbury, CT - Airport: DXR, Danbury Muni, runway 26, 4,422 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 24; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 20, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 572 total, 136 in this make and model, 479 as pilot in command, 155 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 41; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 35 total, 35 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: DXR, 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 20020805022009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020805022009A), Aug 5, 2002: Cessna 152, Danbury, CT, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 5, 2002 about 1945 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N89044 was substantially damaged when it impacted trees during a simulated forced… 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.