Cessna 172G accident near Greensboro, North Carolina, May 30, 2024
On May 30, 2024 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 1965 Cessna 172G, registered N3687L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Greensboro, North Carolina (Piedmont Triad Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and a subsequent loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 2024 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Greensboro, North Carolina · Piedmont Triad Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G, built 1965 · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3687L · no longer on the register · serial 17253856
- 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, as he began to flare for landing, the airplane started “ballooning.” The airplane subsequently landed hard, veered off the runway and struck a ditch. The nose landing gear was displaced into the engine firewall, and the underside of the forward fuselage was buckled. The pilot reported 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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 82 hours in all; 74 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 18 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 25, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,255 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 29, 2024; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-AYM (piston); 246 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GSO Greensboro NC at 5:39 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05L/, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from KGSO, 46 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KGSO 301854Z VRB05KT 10SM SCT055 24/10 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP179 T02390100
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Front view left side of airplane showing damage to nose wheel
Photograph 2 – Underside of airplane showing damage to the fuselageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on September 19, 2024. 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 | Pilot's Statement Mor | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | 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.