- Date
- November 20, 1994, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place
- Manville, NJ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2984VCessna 150M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report October 13, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19941120038619A
- Case key
- 9019
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the certificated flight instructor's failure to maintain adequate supervision of the student pilot and ensure control of the airplane during the landing flare/touchdown. The student pilot's lack of total experience and improper aircraft handling were related factors.
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.
Analysis
The flight instructor reported that the pre-solo student pilot's final approach to the runway appeared normal until the airplane was about five to ten feet above the runway. At the point where the flight instructor expected the student to pull back on the yoke to initiate a landing flare, the student pushed the yoke forward. The flight instructor was not able to regain control of the airplane, and the airplane impacted the runway on the nose wheel. The nose wheel was broken off.
Factual narrative
On November 20, 1994, at 1645 eastern standard time, Cessna 150M, N2984V, operated as a dual instructional flight, sustained substantial when the nose gear collapsed during the landing flare/touchdown at Kupper Airport, in Manvillle, New Jersey. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot, the sole occupants, reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight which operated under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the CFI, the purpose of the flight was dual flight instruction in takeoffs and landings. The flight instructor occupied the right seat and a pre-solo student pilot occupied the left seat. The student pilot was operating the flight controls.
The flight instructor reported that the airplane was on final approach to runway 7. When the airplane was at a height of 5 to 10 feet above the runway, the flight instructor expected the student to pull back on the yoke to initiate a landing flare. Instead the student pilot pushed the yoke forward. The airplane impacted the runway on the nose wheel. The instructor stated he was unable to correct the abrupt maneuver in time to prevent the impact.
The flight instructor reported he had approximately 800 hours total time and 550 hours as a flight instructor. The pre-solo student pilot had 11 hours total flight time.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2984V
- Reported as
- Cessna 150M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 763434
- Airframe hours
- 7,466
- Engine
- Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Charles J. Kupper
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · November 11, 1994 · 22 hours before
- Departed
- 47N
- Airport
- 47N · Kupper Airport, runway 7, 3,450 × 50 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
- 22
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 832 total · 230 in this make and model · 727 as pilot in command · 204 in the last 90 days · 64 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 60° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Observed at
- TTN, 17 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.