Summary
On May 15, 2009, a Cessna 152 (N6529M) was involved in an incident near Memphis, TN. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilots' decision to fly at a low altitude and their inadequate visual lookout while maneuvering.
According to the certificated private pilot, he rented the airplane in order to refamiliarize himself with flying from the right seat. He invited a certificated flight instructor (CFI), who was also an acquaintance of his, to accompany him on the personal flight. After practicing some emergency landings at the departure airport, the pilots proceeded to a rural area for additional emergency landing practice. The CFI then demonstrated an engine-out approach to an open field, and shortly after she applied power to begin a climb-out, both pilots heard and felt something strike the airplane. They determined that the airplane was still flyable, and returned to the departure airport, where the airplane was landed uneventfully.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA09CA292. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N6529M.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilots' decision to fly at a low altitude and their inadequate visual lookout while maneuvering.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
According to the certificated private pilot, he rented the airplane in order to refamiliarize himself with flying from the right seat. He invited a certificated flight instructor (CFI), who was also an acquaintance of his, to accompany him on the personal flight. After practicing some emergency landings at the departure airport, the pilots proceeded to a rural area for additional emergency landing practice. The CFI then demonstrated an engine-out approach to an open field, and shortly after she applied power to begin a climb-out, both pilots heard and felt something strike the airplane. They determined that the airplane was still flyable, and returned to the departure airport, where the airplane was landed uneventfully. The CFI stated that during the subject approach, the airplane did not descend any lower than 50 feet above the ground, while the other pilot stated that the airplane did not descend any lower than 100 feet. Neither pilot saw anything that could account for the impact. Inspection of the airplane indicated that the vertical stabilizer incurred substantial damage, most likely due to a wire strike. Efforts to locate the wire were unsuccessful.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA09CA292