# NTSB SEA94LA102: Cessna 172L, N3854Q, Colville, WA, April 16, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 16, 1994, 15:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place: Colville, WA
- Coordinates: 48.670024, -117.749954 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.6700&lon=-117.7500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41911
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA102
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41911/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA102

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT, AND HIS EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED AT THE POINT OF TOUCHDOWN. FACTORS INCLUDE THE STUDENT PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE, AND A RAVINE OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ravine (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT, WHO HAD ONLY FLOWN 4.7 HOURS IN THE LAST NINETY DAYS PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT, WAS ATTEMPTING A FULL-STOP LANDING AT THE END OF A LONG SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY. HE LANDED LONG AND FAST, AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE RUNNING OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. AFTER DEPARTING THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT WENT OVER A 15 FOOT DROP-OFF AND NOSED OVER.

## Factual narrative

On April 16, 1994, at 1545 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Cessna 172L, N3854Q, ran off the end of the runway and nosed over at Colville Municipal Airport, Colville, Washington. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The initial cross-country solo flight, which departed Spokane International Airport, Spokane, Washington, at 1430 PDT, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The flight had been on a VFR flight plan, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the student pilot, he landed fast and long, and was unable to get the aircraft stopped before it exited the end of the runway. After exiting the runway, the aircraft went over a 15 foot drop-off and nosed over.

The student pilot also reported that, prior to this flight, he had only flown 4.7 hours in the last ninety days.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3854Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3854Q), registered now, S/N 17259954 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L
- Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17259954
- Airframe hours: 2500
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Colville Wings Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 3, 1993, 50 hours before
- Departed: GEG, SPOKANE, WA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 63S, Colville Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 38 total, 14 in this make and model, 23 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19940416007909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940416007909A), Apr 16, 1994: Cessna 172L, Colville, WA, Substantial damage. Student on cross country landed fast and long. Overran runway over 15 foot drop off and landed inverted.

## Other investigations on N3854Q (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 OAK73DVG22](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK73DVG22), Sep 29, 1972: Cessna 172 (N3854Q), Vacaville, CA, substantial damage

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.

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