Cessna 182 accident near Sanford, Florida, April 3, 2025
On April 3, 2025 at about 4:22 pm local time, a 1975 Cessna 182, registered N1910M, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Sanford, Florida (Orlando Sanford Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 2025 · about 4:22 pm local time
- Place
- Sanford, Florida · Orlando Sanford Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 P, built 1975 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N1910M · registry record · serial 18264475
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 3, 2025, about 1222 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182P, N1910M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Sanford, Florida. The commercial pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, while holding after several unsuccessful attempts to land at Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL), Lakeland, Florida, he became disoriented and uncertain of his location. The pilot radioed an air traffic controller and requested assistance. The pilot stated that he was advised to switch frequencies and shortly thereafter, he was asked to “Ident,” but the controller could not locate the pilot’s position. The pilot was then advised to squawk 7700 on his transponder. The pilot became concerned about the airplane’s remaining fuel quantity, noticed an airport to his left side, later determined to be Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB), Orlando, Florida, and elected to land. The pilot attempted a landing on runway 36, where the airplane bounced, and the pilot performed a go-around. The pilot then circled the airport at a low altitude before attempting a landing on runway 9L. During the second landing attempt, the pilot stated that a gust of wind caused the airplane to drop “hard” on the nose, subsequently, the nose gear collapsed. Witnesses at SFB reported observing the airplane flying low and “uncoordinated” over the airport. Surveillance video showed the airplane approaching from the west side of runway 36 at about a 45° angle past the threshold before the airplane bounced and then began a go-around. An additional video showed the airplane flying low and perpendicular to runway 9L at tree top height before making a left banking turn and contacting the runway in a nose down attitude. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage and engine mounts. The wreckage was retained for further examination.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,622.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: 15FL Lake City FL at 1:15 pm
- Destination: LAL Lakeland FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from SFB
Weather report (METAR): KSFB 031653Z 17010G19KT 10SM SCT045 31/19 A3019 RMK AO2 SLP223 T03060194
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.