# NTSB WPR22LA342: Cessna 152, N48918, Salt Lake City, UT, September 7, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 7, 2022, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Salt Lake City, UT · soccer field - Coordinates: 40.619547, -111.99288 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6195&lon=-111.9929&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 105913 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA342 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105913/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105913 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA342 ## Probable cause The airplane’s encounter with a microburst during initial climb that resulted in a loss of altitude and subsequent collision with a tree. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: microburst](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034050): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause) - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause) ## 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 best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) (defining event) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48918](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48918), registered now, S/N 15283389 (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: 15283389 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 4394 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 50; injuries: none; 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 - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20220907020889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220907020889A), Sep 7, 2022: Cessna 152, West Jordan, UT, Substantial damage. On September 07,2022[privacy data omitted] a C152 crashed approximately 1.5 miles north of south valley regional airport (U42) in the field at [privacy data… ## Other investigations on N48918 (2) 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 BFO91LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO91LA021), Dec 27, 1990: Cessna 152 (N48918), South Boston, VA, destroyed. Probable cause: THE STUDENT PILOT'S DELAY IN TAKING APPROPRIATE ACTION WHILE ENCOUNTERING ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT WERE WORSE THAN… - [NTSB NYC87LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87LA064), Jan 23, 1987: Cessna 152 (N48918), Simsbury, CT, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 9, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105913. 12.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 5.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14555574&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CFI%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA airport camera statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14525513&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Observation%20N48918_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 6.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14531124&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 224 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14524057&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array-Rel.pdf 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.