Pilot Debrief

Cessna 152 near Fredericksburg, TX — 2019-07-21

Final reportCEN19LA232
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Date
2019-07-21
Location
Fredericksburg, TX, USA
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Registration
N48410
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

NTSB narrative

While in cruise flight at 3,500 ft, the pilot and flight instructor-rated passenger heard the engine begin to run rough. They completed the emergency checklist for a loss of engine power and chose to return to the departure airport; however, the engine continued to lose power and the pilots performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane impacted a barbed wire fence. The atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the development of serious carburetor icing at descent power; however, the engine was operating at cruise power at the time of the accident. The airplane's engine was test run at the accident site; the engine started and ran with no anomalies noted. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Apply carburetor heat immediately upon detecting rough engine operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents8

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