Accident Overview
On April 21, 2016, at about 1645 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 162, registration N5217S, sustained substantial damage when it impacted a field approximately one-quarter mile east of Indianapolis Executive Airport (TYQ) in Zionsville, Indiana. The flight instructor and student pilot on board received minor injuries. The airplane was registered to Eagle Flyers I LLC and operated by Montgomery Aviation, Inc., under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft had departed TYQ about 1640 for a local flight.
Preflight and Weather Briefing
The flight instructor reported that during the preflight weather briefing, cloud ceilings were about 3,000 feet above ground level with a southerly wind at 10 knots and rain showers in the area. After engine run-up, the pilot checked weather radar, which showed a green radar return 3–5 miles to the west, yellow returns about 5 miles west, and a small area of red returns farther northwest. The radar indicated the storm was moving northeast. The Automated Weather Observation System broadcast obtained immediately before departure indicated lightning in the airport vicinity.
Flight and Encounter with Weather
The instructor planned to remain in the traffic pattern due to weather to the northwest. The student pilot was flying during the first takeoff. As they flew on the downwind leg, heavy rain moved in more quickly than expected. About midfield on the downwind, the instructor noticed the airplane was 300 feet above pattern altitude and instructed the student to reduce power to descend. The student reported the throttle was already at idle, yet the airplane was not descending. The instructor suspected they were entering a wind shear situation.
During the turn onto the base leg, the instructor observed a Global Express Jet executing a go-around before reaching the end of runway 18. The primary flight display in the Cessna 162 indicated a 1,500 feet per minute rate of descent. The instructor took control, applied full power, and set a climb attitude. Realizing they could not land on runway 18 before the heavy rain and possible wind shear arrived, he turned away from the storm to fly southeast at full power with carburetor heat on. He estimated their altitude was 200 feet above ground level when they encountered heavy rain that reduced visibility to virtually zero. He focused on keeping the wings level with a slight nose-high attitude to gain altitude. He heard the student pilot say "Pull up" about the time the airplane impacted a plowed field. The instructor reported heavy rain and hail at the time of the accident.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage indicated the airplane impacted the field on an east heading. The nose gear and propeller separated from the airplane at the initial point of impact. The airplane traveled about 310 feet before coming to rest with the nose facing west. The forward fuselage and engine compartment were substantially damaged, and both wings sustained substantial damage outboard of the struts. The empennage sustained minor damage. The instructor reported no mechanical malfunction or failure during the accident flight.
Weather Observations
At 1635, the surface weather observation at TYQ recorded wind from 150 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 miles, thunderstorms in the vicinity, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, broken clouds at 3,700 and 6,500 feet, temperature 20°C, dew point 14°C, and altimeter 29.83 inches of mercury. Lightning was noted in the distance to the west and north.
At 1655, the observation showed wind from 260 degrees at 18 knots gusting to 35 knots, visibility three-quarters of a mile, heavy thunderstorms and rain, scattered clouds at 500 feet, broken at 3,000 feet, overcast at 6,500 feet, temperature 16°C, dew point 12°C, and altimeter 29.86 inches of mercury.