Cessna 152 accident near Durham, North Carolina, November 5, 2005
On November 5, 2005 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5144L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Durham, North Carolina (Lake Ridge Aero Park 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 on landing flare touchdown resulting in a hard landing and 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
- November 5, 2005 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Durham, North Carolina · Lake Ridge Aero Park Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5144L · registry record · serial 15284270
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed on a VFR flight in the local area. Upon return to the departure airport the pilot entered the traffic pattern for landing. The pilot stated the landing flare touch down was high and the airplane landed hard, The nose gear collapsed and the airplane came to a stop. Examination of the airplane revealed the firewall was buckled. The pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical problems before the accident. The accident was reported late to the NTSB on November 22, 2005.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 179 hours in all; 179 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8NC8 Durham CA at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from RDU
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.
Other NTSB records under N5144L 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.