Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 152 near Denton, TX — 2014-07-05

Final reportCEN14LA351
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Date
2014-07-05
Location
Denton, TX, USA
Aircraft
CESSNA 152
Registration
N49785
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

The in-flight failure of the right wing’s rear spar.

NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot and private pilot were conducting a personal cross-country flight. The private pilot, who was flying from the right seat, reported that, while at 3,500 ft mean sea level, about 10 to 15 nautical miles west of the destination airport, he heard a loud "boom." The commercial pilot, who was in the left seat, also reported that he heard the "boom." He subsequently took the flight controls but did not feel or see any anomalies with the airplane. He continued to the destination airport and landed without further incident. During a postflight examination of the airplane, a hole was found in the top of the right wing near the fuel cap, and a fracture was found near the upper portion of the right wing's rear spar. Further examination revealed that there was corrosion near the wing spar fracture. It is likely that the "boom" heard by both pilots was the in-flight failure of the right wing's rear spar.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents3

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