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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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April 1, 1995 · Cessna 152 · N5426B

Graham, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 1, 1995
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Graham, TX
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N5426B
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW95LA155

THE STUDENT PILOT LOST TRACK OF TIME AND IT WAS DARK WHEN HE DECIDED TO TAKE OFF TO RETURN TO HIS HOME BASE. ALTHOUGH HE WAS NOT ENDORSED FOR NIGHT FLIGHT, HE WAS CONCERNED HIS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND THE SCHOOL PRESIDENT WOULD BE ANGRY WITH HIM. THE PILOT FOLLOWED 'GREEN LIGHTS' AND INADVERTENTLY MADE A SHORT-FIELD TAKEOFF FROM A 900-FOOT TAXIWAY. ACCORDING TO PILOT, THE NOSE PITCHED UP AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED. THE PILOT LOWERED THE NOSE TO RECOVER, BUT WAS FORCED TO RAISE THE NOSE AGAIN BECAUSE OF TREES AHEAD. THE AIRPLANE 'STALLED AGAIN' AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. DURING AN FAA INTERVIEW, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE LANDING LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE AND HE TAXIED TO THE RUNWAY WITH THE GREEN LIGHTS.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN PROPER LIFT-OFF SPEED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS WERE THE SELECTION OF THE TAXIWAY FOR TAKE-OFF AND THE INOPERATIVE LANDING LIGHT.

Full Narrative

On March 31, 1995, approximately 2100 central standard time, a Cessna 152, N5426B, was destroyed when it collided with trees shortly after taking off from Graham, Texas. The student pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The following is based on the pilot/operator report. The student pilot departed Bridgeport, Texas, at 1700 on a solo cross-country flight to Graham, Texas. After dinner and shopping at a local department store, he realized he had lost track of time because it was dark. Even though he was not endorsed for night flight, he decided he had to return to Bridgeport because, "I thought my instructor and the president of the school will be real mad at me and I will be in deep trouble, first for not getting back before dark and second, I didn't have a night rating." The pilot followed "green lights" and made a short-field takeoff. "As I pitched up, the aircraft stalled." The pilot lowered the nose to recover, but was forced to raise the nose again because of trees ahead. The airplane "stalled again" and collided with trees. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who went to the accident site, the pilot took off on what he thought was a runway, but was actually a 900-foot east-west taxiway. During an FAA interview, the pilot reported that the landing light was inoperative and he taxied to the runway with green lights on it.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:00 CST
Nearest AirportGraham Municipal (0nm)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN5426B
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-L2C · Reciprocating · 110
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 22 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightBright Night
Wind10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data