Sherman Army Airfield Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas 66027
Wednesday, March 26, 1997 14:26 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The CFI reported that after takeoff at an altitude of about 300 feet above the ground the airplane started to '...vibrate severely, followed almost immediately by a loud bang in the engine compartment.' The CFI made a left turn to return to the airport and was cleared to land. He reported hearing another loud bang at which time the forward left portion of the cowling distorted. A forced landing was made in a field during which the nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over. Postaccident inspection and metallurgical examination revealed the number 2 cylinder separated between the mounting flange and the head due to fatigue.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

fatigue failure and separation of the number 2 cylinder. A factor was the rough terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/26/1997
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1426
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City FT. LEAVENWORTH
Event State KANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 66027
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SHERMAN ARMY AIRFIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FLV
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1355 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID FLV
Elevation of weather observation facility 772
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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) 819
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 26 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1630
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:09PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6359M
NTSB Number CHI97LA091
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 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 152
Aircraft Serial Number 15284693
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 8 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 14
Airframe Hours 5253
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FT. LEAVENWORTH FLYING CLUB
Aircraft Owner Street Address DPCA/IMWRF BLDG 198
Aircraft Owner City FT. LEAVENWORTH
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 66027
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code FLV
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone CST
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 Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
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 --