ATL99LA022

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150 · Winnsboro, SC · November 6, 1998

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 6, 1998, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC)
Place
Winnsboro, SC
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N330JCCessna 150
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 31, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19981106039249A
Case key
45319

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare that resulted in overload damage to the nose wheel assembly.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Hard landingLanding - flare/touchdown
Landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload
Flare - improperPilot in commandCause

Analysis

The student pilot reported that the supervised solo flight departed and proceeded to the local training area. After approximately 40 minutes of flight the student pilot returned to the airport where he started a series of touch and go landing. According to the student pilot, on the second touch and go landing he reportedly observed several dogs near the active runway. Believing that he would hit the dogs on the runway, the student applied engine power, and pulled back quickly on the flight controls. The airplane settled on the runway and bounced. According to the Fixed Base Operator, the airplane porpoise on the accident landing and the nose wheel collided with the ground. The FBO commented that the pilot made a 'bad landing.' The FBO stated that two other pilots also observed the landing and made similar comments concerning the landing. They also reported that there were no dogs observed on or near the runway when the accident occurred. During the subsequent examination of the airplane, major structural damage was discovered to the nose wheel assembly. The student pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane.

Factual narrative

On November 6, 1998, at 1645 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150L, N330JC, operated by a private individual, collided with the ground, according to the operator, at the Fairfield County Airport, in Winnsboro, South Carolina. The instructional flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. A review of weather data from the nearest weather reporting facility disclosed that visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial structural damage. The student pilot was not injured. The flight initially departed Winnsboro, South Carolina, at 1600.

The student pilot reported that the supervised solo flight departed and proceeded to the local training area. After approximately 40 minutes of flight the student pilot returned to the airport where he started a series of touch and go landings. According to the student pilot, on the second touch and go approach he reportedly observed several dogs near the active runway. Believing that he would hit the dogs on the runway, the student applied engine power a pulled back quickly on the flight controls. The airplane settled on the runway and bounced. The pilot continued the climb attitude and established a left-hand traffic for another landing.

According to the Fixed Base Operator, the airplane porpoise on the accident landing and the nose wheel collided with the ground. The FBO commented that the pilot made a "bad landing." The FBO stated that two other pilots also observed the landing and made similar comments concerning the landing. They also reported that there were no dogs observed on or near the runway when the accident occurred.

During the subsequent examination of the airplane, major structural damage was discovered to the nose wheel assembly. The student pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane.

Aircraft

Registration
N330JC
Reported as
Cessna 150
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15075400
Airframe hours
5,517
Engine
Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Vincint Kasyjanski
Registered owner
J.C.Corp
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 26, 1998 · 1 hours before
Departed
FDW
Airport
Fairfield County Airport, runway 22, 5,005 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
49
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
22 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
330° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
54 °F, dew point 34 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
CAE, 27 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.

Other investigations on N330JC · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.