# Accident 20040828030339A: Cessna 172R, Atlanta, GA, August 28, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 28, 2004, 09:06 local time
- Place: Atlanta, GA
- Airport: Dekalb-Peachtree
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8719° N, 84.3019° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8719&lon=-84.3019&mi=10
- Aircraft: N26486, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N26486-2004-12-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172R (registry code 2072401, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 SER A&C (registry code 41511, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R
- Reported engine: LYC IO360L2A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 389 total, 202 in this make and model, 134 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL04CA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04CA170) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040828030339A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) AIRCRAFT N26486, A CESSNA 172 WITH TWO MEN ON BOARD, DEPARTED PDK AIRPORT HEADING NORTHEAST FROM RUNWAY 20R AT APPROX 0903. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF WITH THE AIRCRAFT AT APPROX 75' ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL) THE AIRCRAFT MADE A RAPID DESCENT CRASHING INTO THE AIRPORT'S PERIMETER CHAINLINK FENCE, WHICH IS APPROX 1500 FEET PAST THE NORTHEAST END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED THROUGH THE FENCE AND SLID ANOTHER 20 FEET, COMING TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF DRESDEN ROAD. DURING TAKEOFF, MR. SILLINS, THE STUDENT PILOT, WAS SITTING IN THE LEFT SEAT AND HAD CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE INSTRUCTOR MR. MCNAIR WAS SEATED IN THE RIGHT SEAT. STATEMENTS FROM BOTH MR. SILLINS AND MR. MCNAIR ATTEST THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF MR. SILLINS EXPERIENCED PANIC AND STATED HE WANTED TO GO DOWN. THE INSTRUCTOR SAID HE FELT IT WAS TOO LATE TO LAND AND TRIED TO PUSH THE THROTTLE AND ADD FULL POWER TO GO AROUND, HOWEVER MR. SILLINS SAID HE FELT OTHERWISE AND PULLED THE THROTTLE TO IDLE. DURING STRUGGLE FOR CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT LOST SPEED AND ALTITUDE CRASHING APPROX 2-3 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL04CA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04CA170), Aug 28, 2004: Cessna 172R (N26486), Atlanta, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The intentional interuption of the flight controls in flight that resulted in a uncontrolled descent and collision with a fence.

## Other reports on N26486 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20031226034269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031226034269A), Dec 26, 2003: Cessna 172R (N26486), Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) On December 26, 2003 at approximately 1235 hrs local time during the first supervised solo flight, the student pilot was attempting to land the airplane.…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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