# NTSB ATL89LA147: Cessna 172N, N733VS, Fuquay, NC, May 13, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 13, 1989, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Fuquay, NC
- Coordinates: 35.539203, -78.829978 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5392&lon=-78.8300&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8029
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89LA147
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8029/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89LA147

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: IMPROPER FLARE BY THE STUDENT DURING THE LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING, AND THE SOFT/WET (SWAMPY) TERRAIN CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING A SOLO-INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT LANDED HARD DURING HER FOURTH TOUCH-&-GO LANDING. SHE REPORTED THAT SHE DID NOT ADEQUATELY FLARE THE AIRPLANE AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON THE RUNWAY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE WENT INTO A SWAMPY AREA BESIDE THE RUNWAY AND WAS DAMAGED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N733VS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N733VS), registered now, S/N 17268588, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17268588
- Airframe hours: 2040
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: House, Harper H.
- Registered owner: Harper H House
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, May 29, 1988, 245 hours before
- Airport: 5W5, Triple W Air Park, runway 16, 3,004 × 70 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 47 total, 45 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RDU, 16 nm away

## 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 19890513012869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890513012869A), May 13, 1989: Cessna 172N, Raleigh, NC, Substantial damage. Student flared too late on landing. Impact with runway caused loss of control and departure from runway into swamp.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.