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ATL06CA047

2005-12-27 · Wilmington, North Carolina, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport KILM

Current FAA registration · N54360

Make / Model
CESSNA 172P
Year of manufacture
1981 · 24 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19810512
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A6E654

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing.

Factual narrative

On December 27, 2005, at 1700 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172P, N54360, registered to and operated by ISO Aero Services of Wilmington Incorporated, as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, landed hard on runway 35, at the Wilmington International Airport, Wilmington, North Carolina. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The student pilot did not report any injuries. The flight originated from Kinston Regional Jetport, Kinston, North Carolina on December 27, 2005 at 1600. The student pilot stated that he departed Kinston with full fuel, and upon final approach to Wilmington International Airport, runway 35 he attempted to slow down his approach airspeed. The student pilot stated when he flared the airplane he "dropped hard on runway 35". The airplane touched down a second time, and the student pilot stated he heard the nose wheel tire "pop". The student pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident. The accident was reported to NTSB on March 3, 2006. Inspection of the airplane by an FAA inspector showed the firewall of the airplane was bent. The student pilot stated that he departed Kinston with full fuel, and upon final approach to Wilmington International Airport runway 35, he attempted to slow down his approach airspeed. The student pilot stated that when he flared the airplane he "dropped hard on runway 35". The airplane touched down a second time, and the student pilot that stated he heard the nose wheel tire "pop". The student pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2005_ATL06CA047.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.