# NTSB ATL94LA167: Cessna 152, N94194, W. Columbia, SC, August 27, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 27, 1994, 13:29 local (17:29 UTC)
- Place: W. Columbia, SC
- Coordinates: 33.94078, -81.149826 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9408&lon=-81.1498&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3441
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA167
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3441/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA167

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRCRAFT, RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING.

## 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 (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT WAS LANDING THE AIRPLANE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE APPROACH WAS NORMAL UNTIL THE FLARE AND TOUCHDOWN. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD, WITH THE NOSE WHEEL TOUCHING DOWN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE MAINS. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. THE LANDING WAS HARD ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE EMERGENCY LOCATOR TRANSMITTER. THE PILOT HAD LOGGED ABOUT 61 HOURS TOTAL TIME, INCLUDING 20 HOURS SOLO. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.

## Factual narrative

On August 27, 1994, at 1329 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N94194, was substantially damaged when the nose gear collapsed after a hard landing at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, in West Columbia, South Carolina. The student pilot was not injured. The aircraft was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the North American Institute of Aviation of Conway, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the solo- instructional flight. The flight originated at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, at 1220.

The pilot reported the following: He was landing at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, with a final approach speed of 60 to 65 knots, with 30 degrees of flaps extended. The approach was normal until the flare and touchdown. The main gear touched down first, immediately followed by the nose gear. The nose gear collapsed, and the airplane came to a stop. The landing was hard enough to activate the emergency locator transmitter. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or failure with the aircraft during the accident flight.

An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the aircraft, and reported that the airframe was structurally damaged.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N94194](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N94194), registered now, S/N 15285618, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O235N2C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o235n2c) (registry code 42166, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15285618
- Airframe hours: 6870
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-N2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: N. American Inst. Of Aviation
- Registered owner: N. American Inst. Of Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Special, Provisional (Special)
- Last inspection: AAIP, August 18, 1994, 36 hours before
- Departed: 49J, HILTON HEAD IS., SC
- Destination: CAE
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: CAE, Columbia Metropolitan, runway 29, 8,602 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 61 total, 61 in this make and model, 20 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CAE

## 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 19940827023949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940827023949A), Aug 27, 1994: Cessna 152, Columbia, SC, Substantial damage. Student made hard landing. Collapsed nose gear and bent airframe.

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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