Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Springdale, Arkansas 72765
Saturday, May 11, 1996 9:05 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While practicing simulated engine out procedures, the flight instructor (CFI) 'pulled the mixture off to simulate [an] engine failure.' When the student pilot did not turn towards a field to land the airplane, the CFI took the controls and attempted unsuccessfully to restart the engine. During an approach for a forced landing in an open field, the airplane hit a barbed wire fence, damaging the left horizontal stabilizer, cowling, and fuselage. The airplane touched down 30 to 50 feet beyond the fence and came to a stop without further damage. After landing, the instructor 'restarted the engine to trouble-shoot, but found no trouble as it started immediately.' FAA publication AC 61-21A stated that the throttle should be used to simulate an engine failure.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the flight instructor's improper (unapproved) procedure of using the mixture control to simulate an engine failure. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/11/1996
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 905
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City SPRINGDALE
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72765
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 772
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 11 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1558
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:00AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N704RS
NTSB Number FTW96LA209
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 150M
Aircraft Series Identifier 150M
Aircraft Serial Number 15078819
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Feb 1 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3400
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GREG BASSETT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 516 DELL CIRCLE
Aircraft Owner City LOWELL
Aircraft Owner State AR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 72745
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code ASG
Departure City
Departure State AR
Departure Country
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --