ATL04LA018

Factual narrative

On October 16, 2003, at 1315 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N64255, registered to Sanford Aircraft Services Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, went off the left side of runway 03, collided with a ditch, and nosed over on landing roll out at Sanford Lee County Regional Airport, Sanford, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The student pilot reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Stanley County Airport, Albemarle, North Carolina, on October 16, 2003, at 1245. The student pilot stated he encountered a gust of wind on landing roll out, and he lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane went off the left side of the runway, collided with a ditch, and nosed over. The nearest weather reporting facility at the time of the accident was Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Raleigh, North Carolina. No wind gusts were being reported at the time of the accident. The student pilot stated he encountered a gust of wind on landing roll out, and lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane went off the left side of the runway, collided with a ditch, and nosed over. Review of the surface weather observation closest to the airport revealed no wind gusts were reported at the time of the accident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12