# NTSB IAD96LA054: Cessna 172, N61546, Taplin, WV, March 27, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 27, 1996, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Taplin, WV - Coordinates: 37.840671, -81.979309 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8407&lon=-81.9793&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 22, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28031 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD96LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28031/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD96LA054 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper level off and recovery from a bounced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - carburetor heat control,cable/push-pull rod - failure - terrain condition - grass - level off - improper, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,nose gear - overload - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The pilot reported that he returned to the departure airport after the carburetor heat control failed during the local flight. During landing, the airplane bounced two or three times. The pilot stated that on the last touchdown the nose gear collapsed, dug in, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The FAA inspector reported that the nose landing gear failure appeared to be the result of a very hard landing. ## Factual narrative On March 27, 1996, at 1200 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172, N61546, nosed over and came to rest inverted after the nose gear collapsed while landing at McDonald Field, in Taplin, West Virginia. The certificated private pilot reported minor injuries, and the one passenger reported no injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, no flight plan was filed. The local flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 and originated in Taplin, West Virginia, at approximately 1045 eastern standard time. The pilot stated that the local flight proceeded normally until about 1150, when he prepared to land at a nearby airport. He reported that as he "...reduced power and applied [carburetor] heat, the [carburetor] heat cable apparently separated from the heat control box...I decided to abort the landing...and headed back to McDonald." The pilot reported that his approach to the turf runway was normal, but the airplane bounced "...two or three times..." during the landing. He stated that he "...decided not to go around, because I felt that the aircraft was in an unsafe condition...because of the inoperative [carburetor] heat." The pilot stated that on the third touchdown the nose gear collapsed, dug in, and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector stated that the nose wheel appeared to have failed and separated "...due to a very hard landing." ## Aircraft - Registration: N61546 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17264629 - Airframe hours: 2586 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-32D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Scott Hammond, doing business as Hammond Aviation - Registered owner: Fred & Frederick S. Hammond - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: I94 - Destination: I94 - Airport: I94, Mcdonald Field, runway 12, 2,750 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 210 total, 102 in this make and model, 186 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BKW, 37 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 19960327005279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960327005279A), Mar 27, 1996: Cessna 172M, Taplin, WV, Substantial damage. On final carb heat control separated. Returned to home airport. Bounced and porpoised folded nose gear. Nosed over. 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.