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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

May 23, 1996 · Cessna 152 · N52MA

Bridgeport, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 23, 1996
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Bridgeport, TX
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N52MA
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW96LA225

While taxiing, the student pilot leaned the fuel/air mixture. He did not recall enrichening the mixture prior to takeoff. The pilot said that during the takeoff roll, he heard a noise that could have been from a lean mixture setting. When the cockpit control panel was examined, the mixture control was found in a leaned position. Witnesses stated that the airplane's engine did not sound like it was at full throttle. They also stated that the airplane 'wallowed' at about 10 feet AGL all the way down the 4,009 foot runway. The airplane impacted the trees at the end of the runway.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's improper preflight by failing to ensure the mixture control was properly set before takeoff, and his failure to abort the takeoff (while there was sufficient runway remaining).

Full Narrative

On May 23, 1996, at 1750 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N52MA, owned and operated by Bridgeport Flight Training Center, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from the Bridgeport Municipal Airport in Bridgeport, Texas. The student pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 local solo instructional flight. A flight plan was not filed. The student pilot was practicing short field takeoffs. According to witnesses, the airplane did not sound like it was at full power during the takeoff roll. The witnesses stated that, although the airplane did get airborne, it seemed to "wallow" at about 10 feet AGL all the way down the 4,009 foot runway. The pilot reported that, after he rotated and became airborne, "the aircraft just started to sink and loose airspeed. I tried to keep it up as much [as] I could, but to no response." He further reported that he "continued in this state, proceeding down the runway not aware of my close proximity to the trees." The airplane impacted the trees at the end of the runway. The FAA inspector reported that the pilot said that, "he had been taxiing with the mixture partially to the lean position and did not remember if he pushed it all the way rich prior to takeoff, and during [the] roll down [the] runway he heard a noise that could have been from a lean mixture setting." Inspection by the FAA inspector revealed that the right wing was "broken" at the outboard end of the flap with the tip bent back towards the tail, and the area from the cockpit control panel forward separated from the fuselage. The airplane contained fuel, although the exact amount could not be determined due to leakage from broken fuel system components. When the cockpit area was examined, the mixture control was in a leaned position.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:50 CDT
Nearest AirportBridgeport Municipal (0nm)
Runway17
Runway Length4009 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN52MA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
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 26 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility8 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data