Cessna 152 accident near Kissimmee, Florida, September 9, 2003
On September 9, 2003 at about 1:05 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5172B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kissimmee, Florida (Kissimmee airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to inadequate maintenance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 2003 · about 1:05 pm local time
- Place
- Kissimmee, Florida · Kissimmee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5172B · registry record · serial 15283788
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot stated, after taking off, and at an altitude of about 200 to 300 feet mean sea level, the engine lost power. The pilot made a 180-degree turn back to the airport, but was unable to reach the runway, and impacted with trees on the northwest corner of the airport. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated that several discrepancies were found during the postaccident examination of the engine. The shielding was separated on five of the eight ignition leads, the No. 2 cylinder ignition lead was misfiring into the shielding, and there was excessive play in the carburetor throttle shaft. The contacts on the distributor blocks of both magnetos were burned and worn, and the fuel screen was very dirty.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,273 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 29, 2003; 13.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ISM Kissimmee FL at 1:03 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 330, 6,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 2:05 pm from KISM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.