Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Cessna 152, N4606L: Accident occurred June 20, 2014 near Agua Dulce Airport (L70), Los Angeles County, California


Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Van Nuys, California 

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms


https://registry.faa.gov/N4606L 
 
Location: Agua Dulce, CA
Accident Number: WPR14LA257
Date & Time: 06/20/2014, 1430 PDT
Registration: N4606L
Aircraft: CESSNA 152
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Miscellaneous/other
Injuries: 2 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On June 20, 2014, about 1430 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N4606L, sustained substantial damage during takeoff initial climb, while departing Agua Dulce Airport (L70), Agua Dulce, California. The private pilot and pilot-rated passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was registered to FLITESERV LLC., and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight that originated from Long Beach Airport (KLGB), Long Beach, California, about 1245.

During a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the owner of the flight school reported that the pilot and passenger were both foreign private pilots of the CFR Part 141 flight school, and were working on their commercial certificates. The pilots had rented the airplane to make a cross-country flight. When queried about their destination by the owner, the pilot reported Agua Dulce Airport. The owner explained that Agua Dulce Airport did not meet the distance requirement for the advanced rating, and suggested that they overfly Agua Dulce Airport, and continue to General William J Fox Field (KWJF), Lancaster, California, which would meet the distance requirement.

The owner further reported that he had interviewed the left seat pilot at the hospital and that the pilot told him that during the takeoff roll, he didn't think the airplane was accelerating fast enough, and he pulled the power to abort the takeoff. At that point, he said the pilot in the right seat took the controls, applied full power, and continued the takeoff. The airplane was climbing slowly, but the stall warning horn was sounding, and he (left seat pilot) thought the right seat pilot was going to stall the airplane. He said he resumed control and pushed the nose of the airplane down to increase the airspeed. The main landing gear struck high-voltage power lines crossing their path, and the airplane descended impacting the terrain.

The owner reported that he was unable to speak with the right seat pilot due to her injuries.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that he had interviewed the pilot in the right seat at the hospital. He reported that her memory of the event ended at the take-off and was a bit sketchy before that.

She did not remember taking the flight controls during the flight. She said she was never checked out in the Cessna 152. She did remember the left seat pilot 'complaining' about the performance during the take-off, reducing throttle (while still on the ground) and then re-applying power and continuing the take-off. She thought that the airplane was in 'clean' configuration for take-off and did not remember that the flaps were set for 'short-field'.

The FAA Airport Facility Directory indicates that runway 04 has a 1.9% uphill slope. The terrain off the end of the runway is rising.

The weather at the time of departure was wind variable at 4 knots, temperature 84°F, dew point 54°F, altimeter setting 29.95"hg, and calculated density altitude was 5,004 ft.

During the engine and airframe examinations no mechanical anomalies were found. However, the carburetor heat was found in the "on" position and the flaps were extended to "full" 30o deflection.

Several weeks after the accident the operator stopped communicating with the NTSB and the FAA. Further investigation found that the flight school was closed. The operator did not submit the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1 as requested.

High Density Altitude


The hazards associated with high density altitude operations are outlined in an FAA Pamphlet titled DENSITY ALTITUDE (FAA-P-8740-2). The publication states,

High density altitude will decrease the airplanes performance. Whether due to high altitude, high temperature, or both, reduced air density (reported in terms of density altitude) adversely affects aerodynamic performance and decreases the engine's horsepower output. Takeoff distance, power available (in normally aspirated engines), and climb rate are all adversely affected.

Pilot Information


Certificate: Commercial; Private
Age: 24, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present:
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Unknown
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 100 hours (Total, all aircraft) 

Pilot-Rated Passenger Information


Certificate: Private
Age: 28, Female
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present:
Instructor Rating(s):
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Unknown
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 200 hours (Total, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information


Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Registration: N4606L
Model/Series: 152 NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1980
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal; Utility
Serial Number: 15284194
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection:  Unknown
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1676 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT:
Engine Model/Series: O-235 SERIES
Registered Owner: FLITESERV LLC.
Rated Power: 120 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan


Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: L70, 2660 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time: 1247 PDT
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered
Visibility:  20 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 4 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: Variable
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 29.95 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / 12°C
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point: Agua Dulce, CA (L70)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: Unknown
Destination: Palmdale, CA (KWJF)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1245 PDT
Type of Airspace:

Airport Information


Airport: AGUA DULCE (L70)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 2660 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 04
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 4600 ft / 50 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None

Wreckage and Impact Information


Crew Injuries: 2 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 34.516944, -118.269444

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