Cessna 152 accident near Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, February 5, 1993
On February 5, 1993 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N49945, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina (Triple W Airpark airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO JUDGE A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 5, 1993 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina · Triple W Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N49945 · no longer on the register · serial 15281408
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING HIS FOURTH SOLO LANDING OF THE DAY. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ABOUT 83 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, LEFT OF CENTERLINE, AND 5 DEGREES LEFT OF RUNWAY HEADING. THE STUDENT WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT BACK TO THE RUNWAY, AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A RUNWAY LIGHT AND A DIRT BANK BEFORE NOSING DOWN. THE PILOT'S INSTRUCTOR WAS MONITORING THE FLIGHT AND CONFIRMED THAT THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY AFTER TOUCHDOWN. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE STUDENT HAD LOGGED ABOUT 21 HOURS TOTAL TIME, INCLUDING ABOUT 1 HOUR SOLO TIME.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 21 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,829 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 24, 1992; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ron'S Aircraft Service
The flight
- Departed from: 5W5 at 7:45 pm
- Destination: 5W5
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,004 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from RDU, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.