- Date
- June 4, 1999, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place
- La Fayette, GA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3773VCessna 150M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 18, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990604006329A
- Case key
- 46482
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 improper flare by the student pilot and the inadequate supervision by the pilot in command.
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 pilot in command (PIC) stated that the purpose of the flight was for the aircraft owner, a student pilot, to follow him through on the flight controls. The flight departed, and the PIC performed 2 landings, flew to a nearby city, then returned to the departure airport and entered the traffic pattern. While on final approach with the flaps fully extended, the PIC was manipulating the throttle control and the student was manipulating the flight controls. The student reportedly flared too high and the PIC advised the student of this who then pushed forward on the control column. The airplane then impacted the runway in a nose low attitude. The PIC further stated that there was no preimpact failure or malfunction of the flight controls or the engine. The student stated that he does not recall pushing forward on the control column but did state that he did not hear the stall warning horn. According to the airplane owner, postaccident investigation revealed that the stall warning horn operated satisfactory.
Factual narrative
On June 4, 1999, about 1045 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N3773V, registered to a private individual, was landed hard at Barwick La Fayette Airport, La Fayette, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR part 91 instructional flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot and student pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight originated about 1 hour earlier from Barwick La Fayette Airport, La Fayette, Georgia.
The private-rated pilot-in-command (PIC) stated that the purpose of the flight was for the airplane owner (student pilot) to follow him through on the flight controls. The flight departed, performed two landings, then flew to a nearby city, and returned to the departure airport for another landing. While on final approach with the flaps fully extended; the PIC was manipulating the throttle control and the student was manipulating the flight controls. The PIC stated that the student flared too high and advised the student of this. The student then reportedly pushed forward on the control column but before the PIC could react, the airplane then landed hard in a nose-low attitude. The PIC further stated that there was no preimpact failure or malfunction of the flight controls or of the engine. The student stated that he does not recall pushing forward on the control column but did state that he did not hear the stall warning horn.
According to the airplane owner, the stall warning system operationally checked satisfactory after the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3773V
- Reported as
- Cessna 150M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15076618
- Airframe hours
- 2,709
- Engine
- Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Gordon R. Leonard
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 24, 1998 · 12 hours before
- Departed
- 9A5
- Airport
- 9A5 · Barwick Lafayette Airport, runway 2, 4,250 × 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
- 67
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 850 total · 200 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 40° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CHA, 18 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.