Cessna 172 accident near Winston-Salem, North Carolina, September 18, 2023
On September 18, 2023 at about 1:15 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna 172, registered N1451U, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Smith Reynolds 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 pilot’s loss of directional control upon landing which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2023 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Winston-Salem, North Carolina · Smith Reynolds · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 M, built 1976 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N1451U · no longer on the register · serial 17267118
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo student pilot reported that during the second solo landing of the day she experienced a slight balloon, and once the airplane settled on the runway it was in a “partial crab to the right.” Upon touching down, she over corrected to the left and the airplane departed the runway surface into the grass. While in the grass the airplane struck a runway sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and the left horizontal stabilizer. The solo student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 24 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,470.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 14, 2023; 43.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 13,525 hours total
- Operator: Piedmont Flight INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 3,938 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 am from INT
Weather report (METAR): KINT 181254Z 33005KT 10SM CLR 18/13 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP126 T01780133
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on November 9, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Solo Student Pilot Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Flight Instructor Statement (Witness) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Record of Visit | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Memorandum for Record A�� FAA Operations Inspector Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.