NTSB CAROL · Event
Event SEA94LA102
Registry · N3854Q
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
CESSNA 172L
Engine
LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19710820
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A470D0
Registrant of record
HAFFORD JAY T
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT, AND HIS EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED AT THE POINT OF TOUCHDOWN. FACTORS INCLUDE THE STUDENT PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE, AND A RAVINE OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Factual narrative
On April 16, 1994, at 1545 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Cessna 172L, N3854Q, ran off the end of the runway and nosed over at Colville Municipal Airport, Colville, Washington. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The initial cross-country solo flight, which departed Spokane International Airport, Spokane, Washington, at 1430 PDT, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The flight had been on a VFR flight plan, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the student pilot, he landed fast and long, and was unable to get the aircraft stopped before it exited the end of the runway. After exiting the runway, the aircraft went over a 15 foot drop-off and nosed over. The student pilot also reported that, prior to this flight, he had only flown 4.7 hours in the last ninety days. THE STUDENT PILOT, WHO HAD ONLY FLOWN 4.7 HOURS IN THE LAST NINETY DAYS PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT, WAS ATTEMPTING A FULL-STOP LANDING AT THE END OF A LONG SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY. HE LANDED LONG AND FAST, AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE RUNNING OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. AFTER DEPARTING THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT WENT OVER A 15 FOOT DROP-OFF AND NOSED OVER. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1994_SEA94LA102.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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