N72675

On April 10, 2006, at 1645 eastern daylight time, a Cessna C-172S, N72675, registered to and operated by Chapel Hill flying Club Incorporated as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, landed hard at the Sanford-Lee County Regional Airport, Sanford, North Carolina. The airplane received substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private rated pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated earlier that day from the Florence Regional Airport, Florence, South Carolina.

The pilot stated that he was returning back to the Sanford-Lee County Airport via the Sandhills VOR. The flight was normal as he approached Sanford for a straight in approach to runway 3.The pilot stated that he "flared the aircraft to high and while compensating the nose dropped and the nose wheel contacted the runway". According to the pilot this introduced a "pilot induced oscillation", and during the second contact with the ground the propeller must have struck the runway. After the airplane was taxied back to the ramp the pilot performed a post flight check, and noted that the propeller blade tips were damaged. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector showed the firewall was bent.