# NTSB ATL95LA157: Cessna 172H, N3254C, Manteo, NC, August 12, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 12, 1995, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Manteo, NC
- Location: 35.9190° N, 75.6955° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DARE COUNTY RGNL (MQI), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9190&lon=-75.6955&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3615
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA157
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3615/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA157

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper in-flight decision to touchdown at the mid-field point of the runway.

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - touchdown - delayed, pilot in command
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THAT HE WAS ALMOST OUT OF FUEL AND MADE A STRAIGHT IN APPROACH TO LAND. HE DELAYED HIS TOUCHDOWN TILL THE MID-FIELD POINT OF THE RUNWAY, AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE 3,300 FOOT RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER.

## Factual narrative

On August 12, 1995, at 1630 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172H, N3254C, was substantially damaged after nosing over during landing at the Dare County Airport, in Manteo, North Carolina. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The personal flight was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight departed Greensboro, North Carolina, at 1130 hours.

According to the pilot, he was enroute to Dare County Airport to refuel. As he approached the airport, he realized that the aircraft was lower on fuel than he initially thought. He radioed a fuel emergency for Dare County Airport, and proceeded to the most direct runway. The airplane touched down long on runway 34, and rolled off the runway into an area that the pilot thought was part of the runway. As the airplane rolled off the paved surface into the sod, the airplane nosed over. No mechanical problems were reported with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3254C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3254C), registered now, S/N 17256156, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172H
- Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17256156
- Airframe hours: 3500
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Walter T. Barlow
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 1995, 100 hours before
- Departed: W95, OCRACOKE IS., NC
- Destination: MQI, NC
- Airport: MQI, Dare County Airport, runway 34, 3,300 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 680 total, 480 in this make and model, 680 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MQI, 1 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 19950812048629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950812048629A), Aug 12, 1995: Cessna 172H, Manteo, NC, Substantial damage. (-16) Aircraft was low on fuel and airman landed long and overturned aircraft in field at end of runway. [privacy data omitted]

## Other investigations on N3254C (1)

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.

- [NTSB ERA25LA261](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA261), Jul 9, 2025: Cessna 172H (N3254C), Century, FL, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

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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