Cessna 152 accident near Venice, Florida, December 9, 2011
On December 9, 2011 at about 3:40 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N471TC, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Venice, Florida (Venice Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination and testing did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 9, 2011 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Venice, Florida · Venice Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N471TC · registry record · serial 15280203
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to practice flight maneuvers for an upcoming checkride. Prior to takeoff, the pilot fueled the airplane and performed a preflight inspection with no anomalies noted. After practicing the flight maneuvers, the pilot flew the airplane back to the airport in order to practice touch-and-go landings. During the takeoff portion of the first touch-and-go maneuver, the engine lost power about 100 to 150 feet above ground level. The pilot initiated a left turn to land in a nearby field, but he realized that the airplane was too low so he performed a forced landing between hangars; the airplane collided with powerlines and a building. A postaccident examination revealed adequate fuel on board. An engine test run was performed and the engine operated satisfactorily with no anomalies noted. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: foreign licence, private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,197 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 263 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 23, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,017 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 24, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Venice FL at 3:38 pm
- Destination: VNC Venice FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from KVNC, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.