# NTSB ATL95LA010: Cessna 152, N48720, Rock Hill, SC, November 2, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 2, 1994, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Rock Hill, SC
- Coordinates: 34.929695, -81.020942 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9297&lon=-81.0209&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 4, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3494
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA010
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3494/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA010

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM OBSTACLES.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - wire,transmission
  - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

WHILE ON A LOCAL SOLO TRAINING FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINES THAT WERE ABOUT 30 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE ROTATED 180 DEGREES AND CAME TO REST IN A RIVER, UPRIGHT AND PARTIALLY SUBMERGED. WATER DEPTH WAS ABOUT FOUR FEET.  THE UNINJURED, STUDENT PILOT WADED TO SHORE AND AWAITED RESCUE. HE STATED IN HIS REPORT THAT HE SUFFERED A TOTAL LAPSE OF JUDGEMENT, AND DECIDED TO BUZZ A DESERTED STRETCH OF THE RIVER. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE WIRES.

## Factual narrative

On November 2, 1994, about 1615 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N48720, collided with the ground, following an  in-flight collision with electrical transmission wires, near Rock Hill, South Carolina. The airplane was operated by Ksena Corporation under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. A flight plan was not filed for the local, solo, instructional flight. The student pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was the Rock Hill Airport, Rock Hill, South Carolina, about 1520.

An emergency management official for South Carolina reported that the airplane struck electrical transmission wires, then came to rest, partially submerged, in the Catawba River. Three wires were severed about 50 feet above the ground. The operator of the airplane, and the emergency management official stated that the pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions of the airplane.

The pilot stated that he decided to "buzz" the Catawba River. While flying over a deserted stretch of the river about 30 feet above the surface, the airplane struck two power lines. Under the recommendation section of his report, the pilot said "Total lapse of judgement on my part."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N48720](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48720-1995-02-07), registration cancelled 1995-02-07, S/N 15280936 (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: 15280936
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ksena Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport; Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Normal
- Destination: 29J, SC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; student, foreign, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 50 total, 50 in this make and model, 19 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CLT, 18 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 19941102037229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941102037229A), Nov 2, 1994: Cessna 152, Rock Hills, SC, Substantial damage. Struck power lines and fell into water after buzzing river at 30 ft above river.

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.