What happened
On April 3, 2025, at approximately 12:22 EDT, a Cessna 182P, registration N1910M, was involved in an accident near Sanford, Florida. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use.
While holding after several unsuccessful landing attempts at Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL), the pilot became disoriented and unsure of his position. After requesting assistance from air traffic control, the pilot was instructed to squawk 7മുണ്ട 7700 on his transponder because controllers could not locate the aircraft. Concerned about remaining fuel, the pilot identified an airport to his left, later identified as Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB), and decided to land there.
The pilot first attempted to land on runway 36. Surveillance video showed the aircraft approaching the runway threshold at a 45-degree angle, at which point the plane bounced, prompting a go-around. Following a low-altitude circle of the airport, the pilot attempted a second landing on runway 9L. During this second approach, the pilot reported that a gust of wind caused the aircraft to drop hard on its nose, resulting in the collapse of the nose gear. Witnesses at the airport also observed the aircraft flying at a low altitude in an uncoordinated manner.
The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts and the lower fuselage. The pilot sustained one minor injury and was otherwise uninjured.