FACTUAL REPORT AVIATION

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National Transportation Safety Board

FACTUAL REPORT

AVIATION

NTSB ID: Occurrence Date: Occurrence Type:

Most Critical Injury: Investigated By:

Location/Time

State Zip Code Local Time Time Zone

Model/Series Aircraft Manufacturer

Aircraft Information Summary

Sightseeing Flight: Air Medical Transport Flight:

Narrative

Brief narrative statement of facts, conditions and circumstances pertinent to the accident/incident: Nearest City/Place

Direction From Airport: Distance From Landing Facility:

Airport Proximity:

Type of Aircraft Aircraft Registration Number:

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On September 25, 2003, about 1645 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N25787, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain after takeoff from a private airstrip near Three Oaks, Michigan. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

A witness stated:

My brother, [the pilot], took off from the airstrip in the back of his property for a short flight to "buzz" us and fly over the house. The day was beautiful, sunny, scattered clouds, but gusty. We had

attempted an outdoor lunch a few hours previously but went inside due to the wind and the chill when the sun went behind the clouds. The take-off appeared and sounded normal to my other brother and I standing at the house end of the airstrip watching him go. The plane banked to the right and approximately halfway into the turn the nose of the plane pointed straight down so that for 1/2 a second the entire plane was visible just above the far treeline with top (roof) of the plane and the wingspan facing us squarely. It fell straight down disappearing into the neighboring cornfield followed immediately by a small crash sound and then silence.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot held a private pilot certificate for single engine land airplanes. He reported 600 hours of total flight experience on his most recent application for an FAA third class medical certificate, which was issued on September 23, 2003. He reported that he accumulated 10 hours of flight time in the six months prior to that application. That medical certificate had a limitation that the pilot "must wear corrective lenses." The pilot recorded 473.9 hours of total flight time in his logbook. The pilot reported on his insurance renewal application that his last flight review was on January 15, 2002.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

N25787, a 1978-model Cessna 152, serial number 15280784, was a high wing, propeller-driven, fixed landing gear, semi-monocoque design, two-seat airplane. The airplane was powered by a four cylinder, air cooled, horizontally opposed, normally aspirated, 110 horsepower, serial number L-15601-15, Lycoming O-235-L2C engine. The airplane was equipped with a McCauley, 2-blade,

No No

Airplane 152

Cessna

45 0.25

Off Airport/Airstrip

EDT 1645

49128 MI

Three Oaks

NTSB Accident

Fatal 09/25/2003

N25787 CHI03FA320

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Narrative (Continued)

all-metal, fixed pitch propeller, model number 1A103/TCM6958M1, serial number TA020. The last annual inspection recorded in the airplane's maintenance logbooks was dated July 19, 2003. That entry showed the airplane had 4,813 hours of total time.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

At 1654, the recorded South Bend Regional Airport, near South Bend, Indiana, located about 15 miles and 115 degrees from the accident site, weather was: Wind 290 degrees at 9 knots, variable between 250 and 310 degrees; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition few 3,800 feet; temperature 13 degrees C; dew point 4 degrees C; altimeter 30.07 inches of mercury.

At 1653, the recorded Southwest Michigan Regional Airport, near Benton Harbor, Michigan, located about 18 miles and 030 degrees from the accident site, weather was: Wind variable at 6 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition few 3,200 feet; temperature 13 degrees C; dew point 6 degrees C; altimeter 30.06 inches of mercury.

At 1653, the recorded Porter County Municipal Airport, near Valparaiso, Indiana, located about 30 miles and 215 degrees from the accident site weather was: Wind 220 degrees at 5 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 15 degrees C; dew point 4 degrees C; altimeter 30.05 inches of mercury.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The airplane was found about 200 feet east of a northbound runway at a private airstrip. The wreckage was located at the base of a tree at latitude 41 degrees 49.189 minutes N and longitude 86 degrees 35.847 W. The tree's bark revealed scrapes above the wreckage. A section of the right wing's lower skin was found wrapped around the tree. The aileron bell crank was found in that section of skin with its cabling intact. The left wing's leading edge exhibited a semicircular shaped crush rearward. The apex of that crush was about the inboard section of the left wing. Both wing flaps were found retracted and the flap selector was at zero degrees. The empennage was deformed and displaced to the left and was found with the left wing resting on it. The propeller was found detached from the engine's crankshaft flange. Fuel was found in the left wing fuel tank. The right tank was found ruptured.

An on-scene investigation was conducted. Control continuity was established from the cockpit controls to each flight control surface. Control continuity was established from the cockpit controls to the engine. The engine's crankshaft could be rotated by hand and the engine produced a thumb compression at each cylinder. Both magnetos produced a spark at the end of each spark plug lead as the engine's crankshaft was rotated. The propeller exhibited chordwise scratches on the outboard section of one of its blades. The other blade was found with a forward bend. The carburetor's drain plug was removed and a blue colored liquid that smelled like avgas exited the drain. No contamination was observed in the blue liquid. No anomalies were detected with the airplane and engine.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

An autopsy was performed on the pilot by the Berrien County Medical Examiners Office.

The FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute prepared a Final Forensic Toxicology Accident Report. The report was negative for the tests performed.

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FACTUAL REPORT

AVIATION

Narrative (Continued)

Accident 09/25/2003 CHI03FA320

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The parties to the investigation included the FAA and Cessna Aircraft Company. The aircraft wreckage was released to a representative of the insurance company.

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Landing Facility/Approach Information

Airport Name

Runway Surface Type: Runway Surface Condition:

Airport ID:

Type Instrument Approach:

VFR Approach/Landing:

Aircraft Information

Aircraft Manufacturer

Airworthiness Certificate(s):

Landing Gear Type:

Homebuilt Aircraft? Number of Seats: Engine Type:

- Aircraft Inspection Information Type of Last Inspection

- Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) Information

ELT Installed? ELT Operated?

Owner/Operator Information

Registered Aircraft Owner

Operator of Aircraft

Operator Does Business As: - Type of U.S. Certificate(s) Held:

Air Carrier Operating Certificate(s):

Operating Certificate:

Regulation Flight Conducted Under:

Operator Certificate:

Operator Designator Code: Street Address

City

Street Address

City

ELT Aided in Locating Accident Site? Time Since Last Inspection

Hours Model/Series: Engine Manufacturer:

Date of Last Inspection Model/Series

Certified Max Gross Wt. LBS Number of Engines: Serial Number Airport Elevation

Ft. MSL

Runway Used Runway Length Runway Width

Rated Power:

Airframe Total Time Hours

State Zip Code

No No

Yes

Tricycle

Part 91: General Aviation None

Same as Reg'd Aircraft Owner

60647 IL

Chicago

2200 W. North Avenue Peter W. Souchuk

4813 07/2003

Annual

110 HP O-235-L2C

Lycoming Reciprocating

1 1670

2 No

Normal

15280784 152

Cessna

None NONE Dry Grass/turf

NA 628

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FACTUAL REPORT

AVIATION

First Pilot Information

Name

Sex: Seat Occupied:

City

Principal Profession: Certificate Number:

State Date of Birth Age

Certificate(s):

Airplane Rating(s): Rotorcraft/Glider/LTA: Instrument Rating(s): Instructor Rating(s):

Type Rating/Endorsement for Accident/Incident Aircraft? Current Biennial Flight Review? Medical Cert. Status:

- Flight Time Matrix

Medical Cert.: Date of Last Medical Exam:

Glider Lighter Than Air Rotorcraft Instrument Actual Simulated Airplane Mult-Engine Night Airplane Single Engine This Make and Model All A/C Total Time

Pilot In Command(PIC) Instructor

Last 90 Days Last 30 Days Last 24 Hours

Seatbelt Used? Shoulder Harness Used? Toxicology Performed? Second Pilot?

Departure Time Time Zone State Airport Identifier

State Airport Identifier Type of Flight Plan Filed:

Departure Point

Destination

Flight Plan/Itinerary

Type of Clearance: Type of Airspace:

Weather Information

Source of Briefing:

Method of Briefing: Unknown

No record of briefing Class G None 1645 Local Flight

Same as Accident/Incident Location None No Yes Yes Yes 600 09/2003 Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim.

Class 3 01/2002 None Private None Single-engine Land None On File Unknown Left M 49 On File On File On File On File Accident 09/25/2003 CHI03FA320

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Weather Information

WOF ID Observation Time

Sky/Lowest Cloud Condition:

Time Zone WOF Elevation

Ft. MSL

WOF Distance From Accident Site

NM

Ft. AGL Condition of Light:

Direction From Accident Site

Deg. Mag.

Altimeter: "Hg

Density Altitude: Ft.

Visibility: SM

Wind Direction: Ft. AGL

Weather Condtions at Accident Site: °C

°C Dew Point: Gusts: Lowest Ceiling:

Temperature: Wind Speed:

Visibility (RVR): Ft. Restrictions to Visibility:

Type of Precipitation:

Accident Information

Aircraft Damage:

Visibility (RVV) SM

Aircraft Fire:

Intensity of Precipitation:

Aircraft Explosion Classification:

- Injury Summary Matrix First Pilot

Second Pilot Student Pilot

Check Pilot Flight Engineer Cabin Attendants Other Crew Passengers TOTAL ABOARD

-Other Ground GRAND TOTAL

-Fatal Serious Minor None TOTAL

Flight Instructor

1 1

U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil

None None

Destroyed None None

Visual Conditions 9

290 4

13

30.07 10

None

Day Clear

115 15

799 EDT

1654 SBN

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FACTUAL REPORT

AVIATION

Administrative Information

Investigator-In-Charge (IIC)

Additional Persons Participating in This Accident/Incident Investigation:

Robert Helbing Inspector

Federal Aviation Administration 1843 Commerce Drive, Suite 200 South Bend, IN 46628

Emile Lohman Air Safety Investigator Cessna Aircraft Company P.O. Box 7704

Wichita, KS 67277

Gregory Erikson Air Safety Investigator Textron Lycoming

6N038 Chambellan, Box 783 Wayne, IL 60184

Edward F. Malinowski

Accident 09/25/2003 CHI03FA320