Accident Overview
On January 10, 2015, at approximately 1110 central standard time, a Cessna 152, registration N89921, operated by Wallace State Community College (WSCC), was substantially damaged when it impacted trees shortly after engine start on the ramp at Cullman Regional Airport (CMD) in Cullman, Alabama. The student pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Sequence of Events
The airplane was parked on the ramp as the student pilot prepared for a local solo flight. The student pilot reported that the airplane was not equipped with a parking brake. He primed the engine four times and opened the throttle 1/4 to 1/2 inch for starting. Upon starting the engine, the airplane began to roll forward. The brakes were not effective, and the throttle control would not move. The airplane continued to roll, and the student pilot was able to turn enough to avoid hitting a hangar. The airplane rolled approximately 344 feet from its parking spot, struck trees, and sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage, left wing, and engine firewall.
Postaccident Examination
FAA inspectors performed a postaccident examination of the airplane on January 15, 2015. The examination included a functional check of the brakes and did not reveal any preaccident malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Both the throttle and mixture controls were impact damaged and could not be moved, but they remained properly connected. It was noted that the airplane was equipped with a parking brake; however, it was ineffective due to a loose cable. School flight instructors reported that they did not teach students to use the parking brake during engine start because they did not want students to rely on it, preferring to emphasize regular brake usage during engine starts.
Additional Information
FAA ramp surveillance video showed the airplane quickly accelerating after the engine was started before exiting the camera's view. Maintenance records indicated the airplane had been operated about 6 hours since its most recent annual inspection, performed about 30 days prior. The student pilot had last flown the airplane about 1 week before the accident without incident. The student pilot reported approximately 24 hours of total flight experience, including 2 hours logged as pilot-in-command.