Cessna 172 accident near Baltimore, Maryland, August 17, 2025
On August 17, 2025 at about 7:00 am local time, a 2008 Cessna 172, registered N6208C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Baltimore, Maryland (Martin State airport). 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 inadequate landing flare at night, 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
- August 17, 2025 · about 7:00 am local time
- Place
- Baltimore, Maryland · Martin State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 S, built 2008 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6208C · registry record · serial 172S10820
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was returning to his home airport at night following a personal cross-country flight. He reported that before departure, he completed the preflight and before takeoff checks with no anomalies noted. The takeoff, enroute, and approach phases of the flight were uneventful. He stated that after completing a practice instrument approach, and during the landing flare, the elevator control was restricted and not fully effective. The airplane subsequently touched down flat, and during taxi to parking, the pilot noted a “wobbly” nosewheel. After shutdown, he observed damage to the nosewheel, restricted elevator control movement, and abnormal trim wheel operation. Examination of the airplane by the operator and an FAA inspector revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to firewall and lower fuselage. The inspector noted that the elevator control pivot point near the lower fuselage impact damage was bent, which restricted the elevator control yoke movement. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Due to the pilot’s reported preflight flight control checks, which would have confirmed free and correct movement, and the postaccident examination that revealed no mechanical anomalies, it is likely that the elevator control binding resulted from damage sustained during the hard landing.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 599 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RDU Raleigh/Durham NC at 2:35 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 33, 6,997 ft by 180 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 1:10 am from MTN
Weather report (METAR): KMTN 170510Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 26/23 A3003 RMK AO2 T02610225
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 6 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Propeller And Nosewheel Tire Damage
Photograph 2 – Firewall Damage
Photograph 3 – Cockpit Floor Buckling Damage
Photograph 4 – Lower Fuselage Impact Damage
Photograph 5 – Bending of Elevator Control Pivot Point
Photograph 6 – Closeup View of Bending of Elevator Control Pivot PointThe 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
6 documents, released by the NTSB on April 30, 2026. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Pilot Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Excerpt from FAA Aircraft Accident Package - ATC Timeline | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 7 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.