Cessna 172N accident near Mooresville, North Carolina, July 18, 2026
On July 18, 2026 at about 3:15 pm local time, a 1978 Cessna 172N, registered N3462E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Mooresville, North Carolina (Lake Norman Airpark 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 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
- July 18, 2026 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Mooresville, North Carolina · Lake Norman Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N, built 1978 · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N3462E · registry record · serial 17271555
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,387.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 14, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Nc86 Flying Club Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: BCB Blacksburg VA at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,147 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 am from SVH, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSVH 181500Z AUTO 24005KT 10SM CLR 31/24 A3006 RMK AO2 T03110236
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.