No fatalities

Hard Landing Leads to Nose-Over After Runway Excursion

Leesburg, VA, United States

On October 16, 2016, a CESSNA 182 R was involved in an aviation accident near Leesburg, VA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent runway excursion. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported a hard landing and loss of directional control, causing the airplane to exit the runway and nose over on grass, resulting in substantial damage.

Incident Overview

The pilot of the airplane reported that during landing, the aircraft touched down hard and directional control was lost. The airplane subsequently departed the runway to the left, and upon contacting the grass surface, it nosed over.

Damage Assessment

The accident resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and the right wing lift strut. No other damage details were provided.

Mechanical Status

The pilot stated that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. All systems were reported to be functioning as expected before the landing.

Contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilotLanding flare — Not attained/maintained

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 16 Oct 2016 CESSNA 182 R accident near Leesburg, VA?

A pilot reported a hard landing and loss of directional control, causing the airplane to exit the runway and nose over on grass, resulting in substantial damage.

Were there any fatalities in the 16 Oct 2016 CESSNA 182 R accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 16 Oct 2016 involved a CESSNA 182 R, at Leesburg, VA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent runway excursion.