Cessna 182J accident near Southern Pines, North Carolina, June 16, 2003
On June 16, 2003, a Cessna 182J, registered N3435F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Southern Pines, North Carolina (Moore County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were 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 which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 2003
- Place
- Southern Pines, North Carolina · Moore County · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182J · all 182Js on the register
- Registration
- N3435F · registry record · serial 18257435
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot during the cross-country flight he entered the landing pattern and the winds changed from favoring runway 23 to runway 05. On short final, the pilot reported that the winds shifted to a crosswind of approximately 16 knots and the airplane landed hard. At the time of the accident, the Pinehurst/Southern Pines weather station reported that winds were from 030 degrees at 6 knots with no gusts. The pilot did not report any flight control or mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed buckling of the lower engine firewall, a flat nose wheel tire and a bent propeller. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any flight control or mechanical malfunctions.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 417 hours in all; 35 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 336 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 26, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,165.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 2003; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470R; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ILM Wilmington NC at 11:00 pm
- Destination: SOP Southern Pines NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 5,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 030° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 400 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from SOP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.