Cessna 152 N89921

Summary

On 10 January 2015 at about 17:10 local time, a Cessna 152 registered N89921, operated by Wallace State Community College, was involved in an accident near Cullman, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 January 2015 at 17:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Cullman, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Cullman Rgnl-Folsom Field (CMD)

Coordinates

34.2006, -86.8047

Aircraft

Cessna 152

Registration

N89921

Category

Airplane

Year built

1978

Engines

1

Operator

Wallace State Community College

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cullman → Cullman

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA15LA097

1 person had minor injuries.

The student pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control after engine start, which resulted in a ground collision with trees.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was parked on the ramp as the student pilot was preparing to conduct a local solo flight. The student reported that he primed the engine four times and opened the throttle 1/4 to 1/2 inch for starting. Once the engine was started, the airplane began to roll, and ramp surveillance video showed the airplane quickly accelerating after the engine was started before it exited from the camera's view. The student stated that the brakes were not effective and that the throttle control would not move. The airplane rolled about 344 ft from where it was parked, struck trees, and sustained substantial damage to the forward portion of the fuselage, left wing, and engine firewall. Postaccident examination of the airplane, which included a functional check of the brakes, did not reveal any preaccident malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Given the evidence, it is likely that the student was not properly applying the brakes when he started the airplane, which allowed it to move forward after the engine started.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.