Cessna 172 P accident near Wilmington, North Carolina, December 27, 2005
On December 27, 2005 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172 P, registered N54360, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wilmington, North Carolina (Wilmington International airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student 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
- December 27, 2005 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wilmington, North Carolina · Wilmington International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 P · all 172 Ps on the register
- Registration
- N54360 · registry record · serial 17274963
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot stated that he departed Kinston with full fuel, and upon final approach to Wilmington International Airport runway 35, he attempted to slow down his approach airspeed. The student pilot stated that when he flared the airplane he "dropped hard on runway 35". The airplane touched down a second time, and the student pilot that stated he heard the nose wheel tire "pop". The student pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 98 hours in all; 93 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 13 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,185.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2005; 55.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KISO Kinston NC at 9:00 pm
- Destination: KILM Wilmington NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 7,004 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 pm from KILM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.