Cessna 172R accident near Brunswick, Georgia, September 16, 2008
On September 16, 2008 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172R, registered N4172P, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Brunswick, Georgia (Malcolm Mckinnon Airport). It was an instructional 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 student pilot's improper flare while landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 2008 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Brunswick, Georgia · Malcolm Mckinnon Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172R · all 172Rs on the register
- Registration
- N4172P · registry record · serial 17280288
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the student pilot of the Cessna 172R, he departed from the airport and was performing three supervised solo takeoffs and landings. During the third landing, the airplane impacted the runway with the nose wheel, damaging the firewall, and then "bounced" several more times. Subsequently, the student pilot landed the airplane on the runway and came to a stop. The student pilot's certificated flight instructor witnessed the entire event and stated that, "he did not flare and then oscillated down the runway." The student pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the flight.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience › Student pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 25 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,954 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 13, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: N4172P Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: SSI Brunswick GA at 1:45 pm
- Destination: SSI Brunswick GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from SSI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N4172P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.