# NTSB ATL83FIA04: Cessna 152, N6171Q, Front Royal, VA, August 16, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: August 16, 1983, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Front Royal, VA
- Coordinates: 38.919727, -78.179885 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9197&lon=-78.1799&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5957
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83FIA04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5957/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83FIA04

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - animal(s) (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS FIRST SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLT. DURING THE APPROACH TO FRONT ROYAL THE STUDENT WAS ADVISED BY UNICOM THAT A DEER WAS ON THE RWY. THE UNICOM OPERATOR SUGGESTED THAT HE BUZZ THE ARPT TO CHASE THE DEER AWAY. THE STUDENT HEARD ONLY THAT THAT A DEER WAS ON THE RWY. AS HE CONTINUED HIS APPROACH HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE DEER WAS OFF TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY. THE STUDENT SPOTTED THE DEER JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN. WHEN THE ACFT LANDED IT BOUNCED AND CAME DOWN HARD ON THE NOSE GEAR. THE NOSE GEAR FOLDED BACK AND SEVERED A FUEL LINE. SPARKS FROM THE PROPELLER HITTING THE RWY, IGNITED THE FUEL. THE PILOT EXITED THE ACFT AND DID NOT TURN OFF THE FUEL. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED IN THE FIRE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6171Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6171Q-1985-04-25), registration cancelled 1985-04-25, S/N 152-85182 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15285182
- Airframe hours: 825
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Eagle Air, Incorporated
- Registered owner: Joe D. Martin
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 5, 1983, 32 hours before
- Departed: HGR, HAGERSTOWN, MD
- Destination: FRR, FRONT ROYAL, VA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: FRR, Front Royal-Warren County, runway 27, 3,000 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 24 total, 24 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830816041729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830816041729A), Aug 16, 1983: Cessna 152, Front Royal, VA, Destroyed. Disturbed by a deer near the runway. Student bounced landing. Nose gear folded. Broke a gas line. Aircraft burned.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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