Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary DEN90LA114

ERIE, CO, USA

Aircraft #1

N714UE

CESSNA 152

Analysis

A NEW STUDENT PILOT AND HIS CFI WERE ON INITIAL CLIMB, AT 150 FEET AGL, WITH THE LEFT SEAT STUDENT AS THE SOLE MANIPULATOR OF THE CONTROLS. THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT, THE STUDENT LOST CONTROL, AND THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. THE CFI WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND THE PLANE STRUCK THE TERRAIN IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE. THE NOSE GEAR WAS SHEARED, THE PLANE NOSED OVER, THE TAIL SECTION SEPARATED AFT OF THE CABIN AND THE FUSELAGE TUMBLED END FOR END TWICE. THE CABIN CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE OCCUPANTS THEN EXITED AND NOTICED A SMALL FIRE IN GASCOLATOR AREA, WHICH SELF-EXTINGUISHED IN A FEW MINUTES.

Probable Cause and Findings

CFI'S FAILURE TO ENSURE THAT THE STUDENT PILOT MAINTAINED SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED, RESULTING IN THE INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH. A FACTOR WAS THE DOWNDRAFT EXPERIENCED AT LOW ALTITUDE AFTER TAKEOFF.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

Get all the details on your iPhone or iPad with:

Aviation Accidents App

In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports