# NTSB ATL01LA023: Cessna 172SP, N43PD, Austell, GA, January 19, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 18, 2001, 23:07 local (Jan 19, 2001, 04:07 UTC) - Place: Austell, GA - Coordinates: 33.819019, -84.63961 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8190&lon=-84.6396&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51363 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51363/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA023 ## Probable cause The pilots failure to follow instrument flight procedures and descended below the published the minimum descent altitude and subsequently collided with trees short of the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - object - tree(s) - minimum descent altitude - disregarded, pilot in command (cause) - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis According to the CFI , he and his dual student were conducting instrument training. Upon establishing radio contact with approach control, the pilots were given current weather, and they were told that the glide slope for runway 8 was inoperative. While on a two mile final approach, the pilot reported that, the vertical speed indicator (VSI) abruptly showed a climb and then a descent while airspeed increased. The pilot selected the alternate static source and initiated a go-around. The airplane collided with trees two miles west of the airport. Weather minimums for the ILS rwy 8 (S-LOC ) are 800 feet with 3/4 mile visibility. The recorded weather at the airport at the time of the accident was 300 feet overcast with 2 miles visibility. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the pitot static system sustained impact and fire damage. The wreckage examination also revealed that the engine had also sustained fire damage. ## Factual narrative On January 18, 2001, at 2307 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172SP, N43PD, collided with trees on final approach while conducting an ILS approach to runway 8 at Fulton County Airport in Atlanta, Georgia. The instrument training flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with an instrument flight plan filed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was destroyed, and there was a post-impact fire. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and rear-seated passenger received minor injuries, and the dual-student received serious injuries. The flight departed Lovell Field in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at 2200 hours. The CFI stated that the purpose of the flight was to allow the dual student and the passenger to observe instrument flying instrument procedures in real instrument weather conditions. According to the CFI, he and his dual-student were conducting instrument training when they elected to return to Fulton County Airport. Upon establishing radio contact with Atlanta Approach Control, the pilots were given current weather and told that the glide slope for runway 8 was inoperative. The flight was subsequently cleared for the ILS approach to runway 8. While on a two-mile final approach, the pilot reported, the vertical speed indicator (VSI) abruptly showed a climb and then a descent while airspeed increased. The CFI reported that because of the abrupt instrument indications, he selected the alternate static source and initiated a go-around. The pilot stated that at approximately time of the attempted go-around, the airplane collided with trees two miles west of the airport. According to the dual-student, during the final approach, the CFI asked him and the rear seated passenger to look outside the airplane to see if they could see anything. He then stated that he was looking at the ground lights when he heard the CFI say " he was going to alternate static". Shortly after the CFI switched to the alternate static source the rear-seated passenger saw fire around the airplane, and the airplane began shaking violently. The rear-seated passenger then stated he was on the ground, and the wings of the airplane were on fire. Recovered weather data showed low clouds at 300 feet and reduced visibility with rain prevailed at the destination airport at the time of the accident. Radar tracking data showed the airplane in a stable descent on approach. The airplane was descending from 3000 feet in 100-foot increments leveling off at 1600 feet then to 1500 feet, and then down to 1300 feet. Prior to the CFI's report of pitot static problems, there were no other airplane problems reported. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane collided with100-foot tall trees 336 west of the ground impact. Examination of the wreckage showed that the pitot static system had sustained extensive impact and fire damage. Further examination revealed that the engine sustained fire damage. Weather minimums for the ILS runway rwy 8 (S-LOC ) are 800 feet with 3/4 mile visibility. The recorded weather at the airport at the time of the accident was 300 feet overcast with 2 miles visibility. At 2307, the tower controller reported a low altitude warning and questioned the pilot about his altitude on final, there was no response. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43PD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43PD-2001-07-12), registration cancelled 2001-07-12, S/N 172S8505 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172SP - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8505 - Airframe hours: 284 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Fulton Flight Services Inc. - Registered owner: Southeastern Aircraft Leasing Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 12, 2000, 87 hours before - Departed: CHA, Chattanooga, TN - Destination: FTY, AUSTELL, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: FTY, Fulton County, runway 08, 5,796 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 30, 2000; seat: right; flight hours: 4,700 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 3,200 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 28; injuries: minor; private, student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 80° at 3 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: FTY, 3 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010118000759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010118000759A), Jan 18, 2001: Cessna 172, Atlanta, GA, No damage. (-23) On January 18th, between 1100 and 1115 hours local aircraft N43PD piloted by Mr. Tom eby hit the trees 2.5 to 3.0 miles off of runway 8 at Fulton county… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.