MANVILLE, NJ, USA
N2984V
CESSNA 150M
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT THE PRE-SOLO STUDENT PILOT'S FINAL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY APPEARED NORMAL UNTIL THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT FIVE TO TEN FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY. AT THE POINT WHERE THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR EXPECTED THE STUDENT TO PULL BACK ON THE YOKE TO INITIATE A LANDING FLARE, THE STUDENT PUSHED THE YOKE FORWARD. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS NOT ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE RUNWAY ON THE NOSE WHEEL. THE NOSE WHEEL WAS BROKEN OFF.
On November 20, 1994, at 1645 eastern standard time, Cessna 150M, N2984V, operated as a dual instructional flight, sustained substantial when the nose gear collapsed during the landing flare/touchdown at Kupper Airport, in Manvillle, New Jersey. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot, the sole occupants, reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight which operated under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the CFI, the purpose of the flight was dual flight instruction in takeoffs and landings. The flight instructor occupied the right seat and a pre-solo student pilot occupied the left seat. The student pilot was operating the flight controls. The flight instructor reported that the airplane was on final approach to runway 7. When the airplane was at a height of 5 to 10 feet above the runway, the flight instructor expected the student to pull back on the yoke to initiate a landing flare. Instead the student pilot pushed the yoke forward. The airplane impacted the runway on the nose wheel. The instructor stated he was unable to correct the abrupt maneuver in time to prevent the impact. The flight instructor reported he had approximately 800 hours total time and 550 hours as a flight instructor. The pre-solo student pilot had 11 hours total flight time.
the certificated flight instructor's failure to maintain adequate supervision of the student pilot and ensure control of the airplane during the landing flare/touchdown. The student pilot's lack of total experience and improper aircraft handling were related factors.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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