Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The improper supervision of the student pilot by the instructor by allowing the student to inadvertently pull the mixture control handle too far out causing the engine to lose power. The wet terrain condition was a factor.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On January 5, 1995, at 1310 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 152, N25953, owned and operated by the pilot, crashed into a muddy field near San Jose, California. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time. The aircraft was substantially damaged and neither the instructor pilot nor the student pilot were injured. The aircraft departed from the Reid-Hillview airport in San Jose at 1250 for a local instructional flight.
According to the instructor pilot, they were practicing simulated engine-out forced landings. During one of the approaches, the student pilot inadvertently pulled the mixture control handle too far out and the engine quit. The instructor took control of the aircraft and attempted to restart the engine without success. The pilot landed in a muddy field and as the aircraft came to stop it nosed over.
The instructor pilot believes the unsuccessful engine restart was due to either carburetor icing, water in the fuel, or the mixture control cable was disconnected.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the engine at a local facility. He found the throttle, mixture, and carburetor heat cables connected and operable. The engine was started and run at various power settings. There were no engine problems found.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX95LA074