Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Livermore, California 94550
Monday, May 13, 2002 11:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilots reported that the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power and collided with trees during an off airport emergency landing. Both the certified flight instructor (CFI) and the student noted that the engine was running rough, "like a rough running magneto" as the airplane climbed over a ridge line. The engine was producing power, but not enough to sustain flight, and the airplane started to sink. The CFI executed a forced landing and collided with trees in the mountainous terrain. A carburetor icing chart indicated that moderate icing conditions were favorable. Detailed examination of the fuel system disclosed no discrepancies in the tanks, lines, carburetor, or the vent system. The engine was mounted in a test stand and ran throughout the complete range of power output from idle to full with no anomalies found.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to the failure of the CFI to apply carburetor heat which resulted in carburetor icing. The unsuitable landing area in mountainous terrain, and carburetor icing conditions were factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/13/2002
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Livermore
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94550
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 373116N
Event Location Longitude 1214200W
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 1153 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 170
Weather Observation Facility ID LVK
Elevation of weather observation facility 397
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.15
Density Altitude (feet) 753
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15901
NTSB Notification Source
NTSB Notification Date May 13 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1237
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 29 2004 7:30AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-OAK-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N48512
NTSB Number LAX02FA162
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15283345
Certified Max Gross Weight 1675
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 Apr 26 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 3275
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FLYING PARTICLES
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1156
Aircraft Owner City LIVERMORE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84551
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 LVK
Departure City Livermore
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1020
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code LVK
Destination City Livermore
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise - normal
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 17 2004 6:21PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --