N53576

Substantial
None

CESSNA 172S/N: 172S9398

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, February 1, 2009
NTSB Number
CEN09CA148
Location
Union Mills, IN
Event ID
20090202X02717
Coordinates
41.453887, -86.792221
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
2
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The certificated flight instructor's failure to follow correct engine clearing procedures. A factor was the unsuitable landing area.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
172S9398
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Model / ICAO
172C172
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
4
FAA Model
172S

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
VENBRO HOLDINGS LLC
Address
271 18TH ST
City
BROOKLYN
State / Zip Code
NY 11215-5406
Country
United States

Analysis

A flight instructor and student pilot departed on an introductory instructional flight towards a training area where they performed basic flight maneuvers. They then flew to Flying U Ranch Airport, Union Mills, Indiana, where the flight instructor demonstrated a simulated forced landing which was to be followed by a go-around to runway 18 (2,745 feet by 100 feet, grass). The runway was reportedly covered with about 12-14 inches of snow. During the demonstration, the flight instructor reduced engine power to idle from an altitude of 2,000 feet mean sea level and executed a descent to an altitude of about 5 - 6 feet above ground level at 60 knots indicated airspeed. The flight instructor did not increase engine throttle during this descent to "clear the engine." The flight instructor applied full throttle during the go-around, but the engine hesitated and the airplane continued to descend. The main landing gear wheels followed by the airplane nose contacted the snow. The left wing followed by the right wing then contacted the ground. Both wings buckled from the ground contact resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The flight instructor accumulated a total flight time of 2,163 hours as an instructor.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN09CA148