WPR22LA342

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152 · Salt Lake City, UT · September 7, 2022

Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal report
Date
September 7, 2022, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC)
Place
Salt Lake City, UT · soccer field
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N48918Cessna 152
Defining event
Initial climb: Windshear or thunderstorm
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
Investigation class
Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
NTSB office
Western Pacific Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20220907020889A
Case key
105913

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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.

The airplane’s encounter with a microburst during initial climb that resulted in a loss of altitude and subsequent collision with a tree.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.

Analysis

The flight instructor reported that, during an instructional flight with the student pilot at the flight controls, the airplane encountered a microburst during the takeoff climb. The airplane started to descend, he assumed control of the airplane, checked the engine RPM's and throttle. Despite his actions the airplane continued to descend. Unable to maintain altitude, he elected to land on a soccer field. During the landing roll, the right wing impacted a tree that resulted in substantial damage. Witnesses located near the accident location reported that, the accident airplane encountered a “microburst” and “big gust of wind,” and it then began/started to descend toward the ground. One witness stated that it appeared as if the airplane was “…fighting to gain altitude.” A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that, the accident flight was captured on airport surveillance camera, and showed the accident airplane take off in a normal climb profile. About 50-100 ft above ground level (agl), the airplane was seen making small abrupt changes in altitude, that the FAA inspector indicated was consistent with a turbulence encounter. As the airplane continued the climb, about 200-300 ft agl, it flew into a wall of vertical dust and appeared to be in a descent. The video showed the airplane as it continued forward in the dust while still in a descent until it was no longer visible in the video frame. Prior to the accident, the airport’s automated weather observation station reported that, at 14:55 local time, the wind was from 160° at 4 knots. Shortly thereafter, the same automated station reported that, at 15:15 local time, the wind was from 110° at 5 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The airplane was taking off from runway 16.

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N48918
Reported as
Cessna 152
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15283389
Built
1979
Airframe hours
4,394
Engine
Lycoming O-235-L2C, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Kelly Allred
Registered owner
Aero Fliers LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · July 28, 2022
Destination
Same as departure
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
U42 · South Valley Rgnl, runway 16, 5,800 × 100 ft, asphalt
Equipment
ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

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 · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
50
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
Seat
Right
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
480 total · 428 as pilot in command · 167 in the last 90 days · 62 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Role
Student pilot
Age
23
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
13 total · 13 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
110° at 5 knots, gusting 21
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
97 °F, dew point 55 °F
Altimeter
30.16 inHg
Observed at
KU42
METAR
KU42 072115Z AUTO 11005G21KT 10SM CLR 36/13 A3016 RMK AO1 T03620125

Docket · 4

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 9, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 12.5 MB 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.

Other investigations on N48918 · 2

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