Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Garland, Texas 75040
Sunday, August 23, 1998 13:02 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The 32 hour student pilot was in cruise flight at 2,500 feet MSL on his first solo cross country flight when the engine RPM dropped to 1,500 RPM without warning. The pilot established a glide into the prevailing wind for a forced landing to a nearby open field located 12 miles southeast from his destination airport. The pilot further stated that prior to turning base leg, he declared an emergency on 121.5 giving his approximate position. The pilot elected 'not to extend the flaps over 10 degrees to make sure the airplane would clear the power lines at the north end of the field.' The FAA inspector established that the engine had not seized and confirmed that fuel was available from both wing tanks. The engine was successfully ran following replacement of the damaged propeller. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. A completed NTSB Form 6120.1/2 was not received from the pilot or the operator.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/23/1998
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1302
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City GARLAND
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 75040
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 8
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1247 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 320
Weather Observation Facility ID ADS
Elevation of weather observation facility 650
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4000
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) 13
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1116
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 23 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2001 1:55PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N757KA
NTSB Number FTW98LA366
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
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 152-79790
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LEMOIN D. WATKINS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4505 CLAIRE CHENNAULT DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City ADDISON
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75248
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 No
Departure Airport Code TYR
Departure City TYLER
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1210
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ADS
Destination City DALLAS
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2001 1:55PM
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 --