No fatalities

25 Jun 2010: CESSNA 152 — St Charles Flying Service — St. Charles, MO

St. Charles, MO, United States

On 25 Jun 2010, a CESSNA 152 operated by St Charles Flying Service was involved in an aviation accident near St. Charles, MO. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper takeoff procedure that led to a decreased climb rate and subsequent off-airport landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During touch and go landings on runway 09, the pilot retracted flaps and applied full throttle but experienced longer ground roll and reduced climb, leading to a forced landing in a field. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

Event Overview

The accident occurred while the pilot was performing a series of touch and go landings on runway 09. The runway is 3,451 feet long and 50 feet wide, with an asphalt surface. During the final takeoff, the airplane impacted terrain.

Pilot Report

The pilot stated that for the last takeoff, she retracted the flaps and applied full throttle. The ground roll appeared "slightly longer" than during preceding takeoffs. After liftoff, the airplane did not climb as expected and was producing less than full power. As the aircraft approached power lines, the pilot concluded it would not clear them and decided to land in a field.

Damage Sustained

The airplane impacted the ground during the landing. Investigators documented substantial damage, including a damaged left wing, a ruptured fuel tank, and a deformed fuselage.

Post-Accident Inspection

Examination of the aircraft revealed that the cockpit flap indicator was set to the 20-degree position. No mechanical issues were detected with the airframe, engine, or engine accessories that would have prevented normal operation.

Contributing factors

Climb rate — Not attained/maintainedPilot