Cessna 182T accident near Wilmington, North Carolina, September 10, 2005
On September 10, 2005 at about 4:10 pm local time, a Cessna 182T, registered N1251C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wilmington, North Carolina (Wilmington International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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 flare which resulted in a hard landing, and the collapse of the nose gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 2005 · about 4:10 pm local time
- Place
- Wilmington, North Carolina · Wilmington International · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182T · all 182Ts on the register
- Registration
- N1251C · no longer on the register · serial T18208407
- 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, he established an approach to land on runway 06 at 80 to 85 knots. The pilot further stated that during the touchdown phase the airplane bounced several times on the runway and came to rest 1800 feet down the 8000 foot long runway. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the engine firewall and nose gear were damaged and all three propeller blades were bent aft. Post-accident examination of the flight control surfaces revealed no mechanical failures. The pilot did not report any mechanical problem with the airplane during the flight or approach to land.
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: 165 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 60 hours
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ILM Wilmington NC at 11:15 am
- Destination: Wilmington NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06, 8,016 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from ILM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.