Cessna 150 accident near Winnsboro, South Carolina, November 6, 1998
On November 6, 1998 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N330JC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Winnsboro, South Carolina (Fairfield County 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 pilot's improper landing flare that resulted in overload damage to the nose wheel assembly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 6, 1998 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Winnsboro, South Carolina · Fairfield County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N330JC · no longer on the register · serial 15075400
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that the supervised solo flight departed and proceeded to the local training area. After approximately 40 minutes of flight the student pilot returned to the airport where he started a series of touch and go landing. According to the student pilot, on the second touch and go landing he reportedly observed several dogs near the active runway. Believing that he would hit the dogs on the runway, the student applied engine power, and pulled back quickly on the flight controls. The airplane settled on the runway and bounced. According to the Fixed Base Operator, the airplane porpoise on the accident landing and the nose wheel collided with the ground. The FBO commented that the pilot made a 'bad landing.' The FBO stated that two other pilots also observed the landing and made similar comments concerning the landing. They also reported that there were no dogs observed on or near the runway when the accident occurred. During the subsequent examination of the airplane, major structural damage was discovered to the nose wheel assembly. The student pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane.
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: 22 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,517 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 1998; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FDW at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,005 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 pm from CAE, 27 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.
Other NTSB records under N330JC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.