Cessna 152 Safety Record

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN AN APPROPRIATE WEATHER BRIEFING IN PREPARATION FOR THE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ALTITUDE SUFFICIENT TO CLEAR THE TERRAIN ALONG THE INDENDED ROUTE AFTER ENTERING REDUCED VISIBILITY CONDITIONS.

IMPROPER PROCEDURE USED BY THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR IN SIMULATING AN ENGINE FAILURE. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT INSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE OF THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.

IMPROPER USE OF THROTTLE AND FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE STUDENT AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CFI WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. THE STUDENT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLYING EXPERIENCE AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION (INSTRUCTING) WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

IMPROPER PREFLIGHT BY THE STUDENT PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: SOFT TERRAIN.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE.CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CFI, WHO AUTHORIZED THE 2ND SOLO FLIGHT IN UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS, THE CROSSWIND, THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, THE RAVINE (DITCH), AND THE TREES.

IMPROPER DECISION AND PLANNING BY THE CHECK PILOT (F/E) WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF PROPER ALIGNMENT AND COLLISION WITH A SNOWBANK AT THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE F/E, F/E'S UNSECURED SHOULDER HARNESS, PREMATURE LIFT-OFF BY THE F/E, CROSSWIND, SNOWBANK & WET/SNOW COVERED TERRAIN.

CARBURETOR ICE. THE PILOT FAILED TO APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT IN A TIMELY AND ADEQUATE MANNER. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN THE ACCUMULATION OF ICE TO A POINT OF FAILURE OF THE ENGINE WHICH ELIMINATED THE HEAT NECESSARY TO REMOVE THE ICE.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A TOUCH AND GO LANDING. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.

THE STUDENT PILOT DISPLAYED POOR JUDGEMENT IN NOT MAINTAINING PROPER ALTITUDE. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S OVERALL LACK OF EXPERIENCE.

INADEQUATE CONTROL TOWER SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE LOCAL CONTROLLER (LC), AND FAILURE OF THE TWO PILOTS TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER'S AIRCRAFT. RELATED FACTORS WERE: IDENTIFICATION OF THE WRONG AIRCRAFT BY THE LOCAL CONTROLLER, HIS EXCESSIVE WORKLOAD (HEAVY TRAFFIC), AND VISUAL PERCEPTION FROM THE LOCAL CONTROLLERS POINT OF VIEW.

SLIPPAGE OF THE CENTER CRANKSHAFT BEARING, WHICH RESULTED IN OIL STARVATION AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE #3 CONNECTING ROD. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE AIRCRAFT OWNER'S CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE ENGINE BEYOND THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED OVERHAUL PERIOD, THE DARK NIGHT, THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROADWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE LANDING, AND THE DITCH/CULVERTS.

THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF AN UNAUTHORIZED SEALANT USED ON THE OIL RESSURE SCREEN HOUSING GASKET CONTAMINATED THE OIL AND RESTRICTED THE FLOW OF OIL THROUGH THE MAIN BEARINGS CAUSING OIL STARVATION AND CONNECTING ROD, BEARING, AND BOLT FAILURE.

FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE POOR APPROACH AND FLARE TECHNIQUE AND LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE.