Accident Summary
On March 3, 2015, at approximately 1100 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, registration N498TC, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Venice, Florida. The flight instructor (CFI) reported no injuries, while the student pilot received minor injuries. The local instructional flight operated under visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan, having departed from Venice Municipal Airport (VNC).
During the flight, the CFI initiated a simulated engine failure at 2,000 feet to demonstrate forced landing procedures. He selected an open field and applied carburetor heat. After turning onto final approach at about 500 feet, the CFI ended the simulation, turning off carburetor heat and applying power to climb. The engine then sputtered and produced no power. The CFI confirmed proper positions of the fuel selector, mixture, and primer, then executed a forced landing to the field. During touchdown, the left wing contacted the ground, causing the aircraft to cartwheel before coming to rest upright. Both occupants egressed safely.
The CFI noted that the same aircraft had performed without issues during an earlier instructional flight that also included a simulated engine failure.
Aircraft Information
The Cessna 152 was manufactured in 1979 and powered by a Lycoming O-235 series, 110-horsepower reciprocating engine. The engine had accumulated 3,484 hours since overhaul. The most recent annual inspection was completed on February 13, 2015, and the aircraft had logged about 29 hours since that inspection.
Fueling records indicated the aircraft was last serviced at 1122 EST the day before the accident with 10.36 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel. The operator did not provide flight records, so total flight time since fueling could not be determined.
Pilot Information
The CFI held a commercial pilot certificate with single- and multi-engine land and instrument ratings, as well as a flight instructor certificate with the same ratings. His most recent FAA first-class medical certificate was issued in September 2013. He reported 6,244 total flight hours, with 352 hours in the Cessna 152 make and model.
Postaccident Examination
Examination by an FAA inspector revealed substantial damage to both wings and the forward fuselage. No fuel was observed in either wing fuel tank, but fuel quantity at the time of the accident could not be determined because a fuel line was damaged during impact. The aircraft was removed from the site, and the starter was replaced. An auxiliary fuel supply was plumbed into the fuel system. The engine started immediately, ran smoothly, and accelerated without anomalies. The carburetor heat control could not be manipulated due to impact damage.
Weather Conditions
Weather observation at VNC (about 5 miles west of the accident site) at 1115 EST reported wind from 140 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 17 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 26°C, dew point 18°C, and altimeter setting 30.21 inches of mercury. A carburetor icing probability chart indicated potential for serious icing at glide power in those conditions.