Cessna 172 accident near Dublin, North Carolina, December 31, 2010
On December 31, 2010 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N4383Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Dublin, North Carolina (Dublin Field). It was a personal 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 pilot’s improper touchdown speed which resulted in a runway overrun. Contributing to the accident was the undetermined malfunction of the airspeed indicator.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 31, 2010 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Dublin, North Carolina · Dublin Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 L · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N4383Q · registry record · serial 17260283
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was repositioning the airplane to an unfamiliar airport equipped with a 2,186-foot-long turf runway. After arrival, he circled the airport several times, and initiated an approach to the runway. On final approach, the pilot performed a go-around due to glare from the sun, and elected to land on the opposite runway. While on the base-to-final turn, he noticed the airspeed indicator was reading zero, but reported feeling comfortable and elected to continue the approach. After touchdown on the wet turf runway about 1/3 down its length, he noticed the airplane was faster than he expected. The pilot applied the brakes, but was unable to stop the airplane. The airplane overran the runway, crossed a road, and nosed over in a field, where it came to rest inverted. Testing of the pitot-static system revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. No determination could be made as to the reason for the airspeed indicator malfunction, as reported by the pilot.
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
What happened, in order
- Flight instrument malf/fail during approach (VFR pattern base)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Indicating/recording systems › Indep instrument (clock, etc) › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Malfunction
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,894 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 30, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bladen Aviation Inc
The flight
- Departed from: EYF Elizabethtown NC at 8:30 pm
- Destination: NC82 Dublin NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 2,186 ft by 66 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 9:40 pm from EYF, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N4383Q 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.