ERA19TA235

Factual narrative

On July 25, 2019, about 1140 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N47028, was substantially damaged during a rejected takeoff at Wakefield Municipal Airport (AKQ), Wakefield, Virginia. The solo private pilot was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The pilot stated that prior to his first flight of the day from Norfolk International Airport (ORF), Norfolk, Virginia, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane that included a check of each fuel tank, which were full. No water was detected in the left main fuel tank, but during sump testing of the right main fuel tank, he had to get seven samples from the tank before the sample was clear and no water was present. He also checked the fuel strainer and a belly drain, and there was no water in the sample from either. The pilot flew from ORF to AKQ uneventfully with the intention to perform touch-and-go landings on runway 20, a 4,337-ft-long asphalt runway. During the takeoff phase of the first touch-and-go landing, about 25 feet above ground level, the engine sputtered. The pilot landed the airplane on the remaining portion of the runway, near the departure end. Realizing there was insufficient runway to stop, he turned the airplane left and it impacted a perimeter fence before coming to rest upright. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer were damaged. During the examination, the inspector recovered fuel with water in it from three sources: the carburetor, the belly sump, and the firewall sump. The inspector also noted what appeared to be a gray putty substance around the right wing fuel cap gasket, which did not appear to be an approved repair. The inspector added that prior to the day of the accident, the airplane sat outside in rain. During the preflight inspection, the pilot sampled the fuel from the right main fuel tank seven times until no water was present in the sample. He also checked the airplane’s left main fuel tank, fuel strainer, and a belly sump and there was no water in those samples. He flew uneventfully to a nearby airport where he intended to perform practice touch and go landings. During the takeoff phase of the first practice touch-and-go landing, the airplane was flying about 25 ft above ground level when the engine sputtered. The pilot landed the airplane on the remaining portion of the runway near the departure end, then because there was insufficient runway to stop, he turned the airplane left. The airplane impacted a perimeter fence before coming to rest upright. The fuselage and right wing were substantially damaged. Examination of the airplane revealed water in fuel samples recovered from the carburetor, the belly sump, and the firewall sump, which indicates that water was still present in the fuel system following the pilot’s preflight inspection. The examination also revealed a gray putty substance around the right wing fuel cap gasket, which did not appear to be an approved repair. Additionally, before the day of the accident, the airplane sat outside in rain. Given this information, it is likely that rainwater leaked into the fuel system throught he improperly sealing right wing tank fuel cap. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Inspection-Preflight inspection-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Fluids/misc hardware-Fluids-Fuel-Fluid condition - C
• F Personnel issues-Task performance-Maintenance-Repair-Maintenance personnel - F
• — Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Fuel system-Fuel storage-Incorrect service/maintenance