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NTSB Report

May 30, 1996 · Cessna 152 · N94647

Eau Claire, WI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 30, 1996
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Eau Claire, WI
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N94647
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI96LA180

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.

NTSB Probable Cause

the flight instructor's inadequate supervision. A factor relating to the accident was: the student pilot's improper flare.

Full 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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:00 CDT
Nearest AirportChippewa Valley Regional (0nm)
Runway22
Runway Length7301 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN94647
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-N2C · Reciprocating · 108
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 26 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind190° @ 7 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point39 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time21:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data