Student Pilot With a Stuck Full Throttle Makes Emergency Landing at Watsonville Municipal Airport

A student pilot flying a Cessna 152 was inbound for landing at Watsonville Municipal Airport. While reducing power to set up for the approach, his engine went to full power and he was not able to adjust it. The student pilot had to make an emergency landing as a result of his throttle being stuck on full power.

**This video utilizes simulations to provide a better viewing experience**

Audio Source: www.LiveATC.Net

[hacknr]

Out of all options given to the solo pilot, using mixture alone to control the engine was the best option, because it preserved his ability to go around, should it become necessary. The other options would set things up for a dead-stick landing, with which the student was also familar.

The student pilot showed that he could think things through in the face of a potentially life-threatening emergency, and likewise come up with a viable plan of action that would allow him to safely land without further incident. He also took a beat to calm himself down -- which is invaluable when facing an emergency.

Assuming he wasn't the student who perished in the pattern mid-air a week later, he has the makings of becoming an exceptional pilot.

Excellent job on this vid!!

[roadboat]

This solo pilot was very cool and confident. Did a great job as did those that helped.

[steveb]

Superb airmanship from the Student. Well done, he is cut out for a long and safe flying career!

[brianrobertson]

Aviation community is great. Controlling the engine with the mixture is the right action in this situation.

[larryrich]

That was a great job all the way around, everyone learned a little something that day

[coreyjordan]

Yes yes yes!!!! Awesome job, awesome. Thank you. So helpful in assisting that student pilot. Very educational. A good pilot is always learning.

[thomasaltruda]

Who’s the first CFI who gave that horrible advice? make a straight long final? Shut the fuel and mags? The best way is to stay high and circle the airport.. then pull the mixture and circle from above, this way he’s always got the field made! Then pull the mixture, and glide it. If he gets low, then he can add the mixture to restart. The second and third pilot has it right, but that first guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about!

[kaasmeester]

The one thing I wonder about is the ATC asking N20502 to relay the question about needing equipment and the like. Why not send out the equipment anyway instead of bothering the pilot with that?

[fhuber]

Student confidence and coolness speaks well of the instructors having prepared the student to handle emergencies without panic.

Everyone working to help the student to a safe landing.

[riogrande]

I was looking forward to this being played out to the end in the simulation, but it seemed cut short.

[FliesFLL]

That's an easy one. My instructor did this to me before I got my private pilot's license. You just use the mixture to reduce power; On an O-320 you aren't likely to hurt the engine by running it lean in the pattern for a few minutes while you get it on the ground.

Great video!

[dannyphillips]

I had this happen to me in a Mooney after maintenance. The throttle cable slipped in it's mount and left the engine at about 1/2 throttle. I just cut the mixture as needed and landed normally.

[anja]

So chipper and polite in the throes of potential tragedy. You are going to be an asset to any airline in your future. Throttle or no throttle. Al I know is my knuckles are white.

[gregorylenton]

Yes that was breathtaking situation...sure glad all went well

[thepianoman]

I think I'd climb to about 5, 000ft over an airfield and then shut of the fuel ... I'd then do a glide approach to the runway after advising ATC of my intentions. Not sure if the mixture adjustment would work but if it did, this would be a better option.

[ABQSentinel]

While this was a success story, the one thing the student should have done differently is flown to a towered airport. At the very beginning, he's making his emergency call and I was thinking, "It's an untowered airport, who are you talking to?" If you're in an emergency situation, you want ATC there to take over the burden of keeping the sky and the runway clear for you, and coordinating with emergency services, and getting someone on comms to help with the emergency. It was sheer luck that the student was able to get the help he needed (and the aviation community is extraordinary in that regard), because if there hadn't been anyone around, things could have ended much differently.

[wildgoose]

I'm a little disappointed that with all the knowledge out there someone advised him to pull the mixture all the way out. This happened to me once, and also in a C152. A local pilot advised me on the radio to lean the mixture. That was the best advice and best option. The rest became quite an uneventful approach and landing, with complete control of engine power. I only pulled the mixture all the way out when the wheels hit the ground.

[tyrekegordon]

Good morning from Florida hope you have an amazing day

[Coldinwis]

This was the video that initially got me into aviation videos. Sad ending with the crash😔

[MrApmech]

WW1 aircraft had no throttle. Engine speed was reduced by switching the magnetos on and off. Lean the mix a bit and use the mags to control rpm.