Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary FTW95LA357

BRISTOW, OK, USA

Aircraft #1

N95654

CESSNA 152

Analysis

A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR GAVE A STUDENT PILOT A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING OVER A PRIVATE GRASS STRIP. WHILE RECOVERING FROM THE SIMULATED FORCED LANDING, THE ENGINE HESITATED AND SPUTTERED WHEN POWER WAS APPLIED. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON THE AIRSTRIP. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR RAN THE ENGINE UP AND EXPERIENCED AN SUBSTANTIAL MAGNETO DROP. AFTER CLEARING THE MAGNETO DROP, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CONFIGURED THE AIRPLANE FOR A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF TO DEPART THE AIRSTRIP. THE INSTRUCTOR 'POPPED' THE AIRPLANE TO CLEAR A BARBED WIRE FENCE AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE STRIP. THE LANDING GEAR STRUCK A BARBED WIRE RESULTING IN STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS ABLE TO FLY THE AIRPLANE TO A NEARBY AIRPORT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

Factual Information

On August 19, 1995, at 1005 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N95654, was substantially damaged upon contact with a fence while on takeoff from an airstrip near Bristow, Oklahoma. The aircraft was being operated as an instructional flight by Spartan School of Aeronautics, under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight instructor and the student pilot were not injured. The flight originated at the Richard Lloyd Jones Jr. Airport, near Tulsa, Oklahoma, at 0910 CDT. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight for which a flight plan was not filed. According to the operator, the flight instructor had given the student pilot a simulated forced landing over a private grass strip. At 400 feet AGL, when the student applied power to recover from the forced landing, "the engine hesitated and sputtered." The flight instructor took control of the airplane and made a precautionary landing on the airstrip. During a magneto check, the right magneto "had a drop of 200 to 250 RPM." After clearing the magneto drop, the flight instructor configured the airplane for a soft field takeoff to depart the airstrip. During the initial climb, the landing gear struck a barbed wire and a wire strand damaged the right horizontal stabilizer. The instructor pilot was able to fly the airplane to a nearby airport without further incident. Post examination of the airplane revealed structural damage of the right horizontal stabilizer.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE. A FACTOR WAS THE FENCE AT THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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