# NTSB CHI96LA180: Cessna 152, N94647, Eau Claire, WI, May 30, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 30, 1996, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Eau Claire, WI - Coordinates: 44.819744, -91.489509 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8197&lon=-91.4895&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10261 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA180 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10261/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA180 ## Probable cause the flight instructor's inadequate supervision. A factor relating to the accident was: the student pilot's improper flare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, dual student (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,nose gear - overload - Fire, other ## Analysis While performing practice crosswind landings, the student pilot pushed the yoke forward in the flare. The flight instructor said that he could not react in time, and the airplane struck nose gear first, collapsing the nose gear. When the nose gear collapsed, the upper-scissor assembly penetrated the belly skin and ruptured the main fuel line between the low-point drain and the gascolator. Subsequently, a fire erupted and the airplane was destroyed. ## Factual narrative On May 30, 1996, at 1700 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 152, N94647, registered to the Heartland Aviation, Inc., of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, with a commercially certified flight instructor acting as pilot-in-command during a dual instructional flight, was destroyed when the student pilot pushed the yoke forward in the flare. The airplane impacted on runway 22 at Chippewa Valley Regional Airport, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The airplane struck nose first collapsing the airplane's nose gear, followed by a post-crash fire. The instructor and student pilot reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The flight departed Eau Claire, Wisconsin, at 1630 cdt. According to the certified flight instructor's (CFI) written statement he was introducing the student pilot to crosswind landings. The student pilot was at the controls on the second landing when he pushed the yoke forward in the flare. The CFI stated, "The landing was hard and the nose wheel touched first and then the mains. The nose gear collapsed and the airplane skidded to a stop." The airplane was consumed by post-crash fire. The Federal Aviation Administration Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI) who inspected the airplane stated the accident occurred when the student pilot, who was practicing crosswind takeoff and landings with his instructor, forced the airplane onto the runway during the landing flare. The CFI stated that the student's actions were too fast for his intervention. The failure of the nose gear and subsequent folding of the nose gear underneath the belly of the airplane, allowed the upper-scissor assembly to penetrate the belly skin. This ruptured the main fuel line between the low-point drain and the fuel gascolator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N94647](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N94647-1997-03-17), registration cancelled 1997-03-17, S/N 15285749 (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: 15285749 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-N2C 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Heartland Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 17, 1996 - Departed: EAU - Destination: EAU - Airport: EAU, Chippewa Valley Regional, runway 22, 7,301 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 609 total, 77 in this make and model, 533 as pilot in command, 99 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 7 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: EAU ## 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 19960530012149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960530012149A), May 30, 1996: Cessna 152, Eau Claire, WI, Destroyed. Student pilot pushed nose down instead of flaring on final, nose struck ground, fire ensued. (-23) short final to runway 22 eau, instead of flaring, student… ## Other investigations on N94647 (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 CHI91LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA080), Jan 20, 1991: Cessna 152 (N94647), Eau Claire, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. 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.