Cessna 152 accident near W. Columbia, South Carolina, August 27, 1994
On August 27, 1994 at about 5:29 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N94194, was substantially damaged in an accident near W. Columbia, South Carolina (Columbia Metropolitan 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRCRAFT, RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 1994 · about 5:29 pm local time
- Place
- W. Columbia, South Carolina · Columbia Metropolitan · 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
- N94194 · registry record · serial 15285618
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT WAS LANDING THE AIRPLANE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE APPROACH WAS NORMAL UNTIL THE FLARE AND TOUCHDOWN. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD, WITH THE NOSE WHEEL TOUCHING DOWN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE MAINS. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. THE LANDING WAS HARD ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE EMERGENCY LOCATOR TRANSMITTER. THE PILOT HAD LOGGED ABOUT 61 HOURS TOTAL TIME, INCLUDING 20 HOURS SOLO. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.
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: 61 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,870 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 18, 1994; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: N. American Inst. Of Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 49J Hilton Head Is. SC at 4:20 pm
- Destination: CAE
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 29, 8,602 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:29 pm from CAE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL94LA167.