Cessna 172 accident near Oak Island, North Carolina, August 2, 2016
On August 2, 2016 at about 2:30 pm local time, a 2006 Cessna 172, registered N24447, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Oak Island, North Carolina (Cape Fear Rgnl Jetport/Howie F 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and substantial damage to the firewall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2016 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Oak Island, North Carolina · Cape Fear Rgnl Jetport/Howie F · 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 2006 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N24447 · registry record · serial 172S10122
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after touching down during landing, he pulled back on the yoke "too far too fast" and the airplane ballooned. During the balloon, the pilot reported that he "failed to push the power to full" and conduct proper aborted landing procedures. The airplane landed hard on the runway and the pilot taxied back to the ramp without further incident. During a postaccident examination, substantial damage to the firewall was discovered. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine 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
- Miscellaneous/other during landing
- Abnormal runway contact during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 169 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 91 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 26, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,372.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 7, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 3,373 hours total
- Operator: Brunswick Air Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: SUT Oak Island NC at 2:15 pm
- Destination: SUT Oak Island NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 5,505 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 11 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 2:20 pm from KSUT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N24447 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number GAA16CA421.