N5523B

On June 27, 1995, about 1730 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N5523B, collided with a lake, during maneuvering flight, near Juliette, Georgia. The airplane was operated by Southeastern Flight Academy under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules (VFR). There was no flight plan filed for the local, personal flight. There were no injuries to the private pilot or a student pilot passenger. The airplane was substantially damaged.

According to the pilot, the flight had departed from Herbert Smart Airport, in Macon, Georgia, at approximately 1630. The pilot indicated that he had completed practice commercial pilot maneuvers, and was conducting a sight seeing flight, for his passenger, over Lake Juliette. The pilot stated that he descended from approximately 3,000 feet above ground level to just above tree top level. According to the Georgia Forestry Commission, the standard height of trees in this area is approximately 30 feet.

The pilot further stated that they made several passes over the water before the engine lost power while flying over the center of the lake. The pilot stated that he did not have time to conduct any emergency procedures prior to the aircraft colliding with the water at approximately 80 knots. When the aircraft collided with the water, it flipped over and the doors popped open. Both occupants escaped the aircraft without injuries and were picked up by fishermen in the lake.

A local fisherman who witnessed the accident stated that he had been watching the plane for some time. The pilot seemed to be flying very low and going in and out of coves. He further stated that the wing of the aircraft struck the water. The aircraft then flipped over and the pilot and passenger crawled out.

During the post accident investigation the aircraft engine was removed from the wreckage, and put on a test stand to be run. The magnetos were disassembled, allowed to dry, and replaced on the engine. The spark plugs, corroded from days in the lake, were cleaned by a bead blaster, and replaced in the engine. The engine started on the first try and ran satisfactorily. No evidence of malfunction was found.