Casualties unknown

1994-06-08: Cessna 152 (N6159Q) — Cavair, Inc. — Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Ft. Lauderdale, FL, US

On June 8, 1994, a Cessna 152 (registration N6159Q) operated by Cavair, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's decision to land in the grass to avoid parked vehicles, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the nose gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot performing a solo landing bounced upon touchdown, initiated a go-around, then landed in the grass to avoid parked vehicles, resulting in collapsed nose gear.

What happened

The incident occurred during a training flight involving a student pilot conducting his first solo landing. Upon approaching the runway threshold, the aircraft touched down with excessive force, causing it to bounce back into the air. Recognizing the unstable approach, the pilot initiated a go-around procedure to attempt another landing.

During the climb-out phase of the go-around, the aircraft began to veer toward the left side of the runway environment. Observing vehicles parked adjacent to the runway, the pilot determined that continuing the maneuver posed a collision risk with those stationary objects. To avoid striking the vehicles, the pilot elected to land the aircraft in the grass area beside the runway.

During the subsequent landing roll on the unpaved surface, the structural integrity of the landing gear was compromised. The nose gear collapsed under the stress of the impact and uneven terrain, bringing the aircraft to a stop.

The investigation

Examination of the aircraft revealed that the primary mechanical failure involved the collapse of the nose landing gear. This damage occurred during the landing roll following the off-runway touchdown. No other significant mechanical anomalies were reported in the immediate sequence of events leading to the gear failure.

Probable cause

The student pilot's decision to land in the grass to avoid parked vehicles, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the nose gear.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001206X01592. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.