Pilot Debrief

Cessna 152 near McAlpin, FL — 2020-06-17

Final reportERA20LA219
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Date
2020-06-17
Location
McAlpin, FL, USA
Airport
FL10
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Registration
N25449
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to abort the takeoff after recognizing poor airplane acceleration, the reason for which could not be determined based on available evidence. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s likely inadvertent initiation of the takeoff with the ignition switch in 1 position rather than both.

NTSB narrative

After performing an engine runup, the private pilot initiated the takeoff roll within allowable weight limits. When the flight was about midway along the 2,600 ft long grass runway at a lesser than normal indicated airspeed for that point along the runway, he thought about aborting but elected to continue and rotated at 50 knots near the departure end of the runway. The airplane remained in ground effect, and he pushed the yoke to increase airspeed while flying through a gap in trees past the departure end of the runway. The airplane reached an airspeed of 50 to 55 knots and climbed to an altitude of about 35 ft above ground level; however, it subsequently struck trees, stalled, and impacted the ground resulting in a small postcrash fire in the engine compartment area due to a broken carburetor. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no preimpact anomalies. Although the pilot later attributed the poor performance to his initiating the takeoff with the ignition switch positioned to one magneto rather than both, it was in the off position when first viewed by recovery personnel 2 days later.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff when airspeed indicator was not functioning properly.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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