# NTSB ATL02LA151: Cessna 172M, N8954V, Dahlonega, GA, August 5, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 5, 2002, 02:55 local (06:55 UTC) - Place: Dahlonega, GA - Coordinates: 34.580554, -84.02333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5806&lon=-84.0233&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO-11 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55372 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55372/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA151 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and failure to maintain directional control resulting in the airplane going off the left side of the runway and colliding with a ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The pilot stated he touched down on the left side of the runway and the airplane bounced. He lost directional control of the airplane and it went off the left side of the runway and collided with a ditch sustaining damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot stated he did not experience any deficiencies with the airplane before the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 5, 2002, about 0255 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N8954V, registered to Blue Ridge Mountain Flyers Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, veered off the runway and collided with a ditch during a landing at Lumpkin County-Wimpys Airport, Dahlonega, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and three passengers reported no injuries. The flight originated from Habersham County Airport, Cornelia, Georgia, at 02:45. The pilot stated the airplane touched down on the left side of the runway and bounced. He lost directional control of the airplane and it went off the left side of the runway into the grass. The airplane went into a ditch where both wings and the fuselage sustained buckling and warping damage. The pilot stated he did not experience any deficiencies with the airplane before the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8954V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8954V-2005-04-07), registration cancelled 2005-04-07, S/N 17264310, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17264310 - Airframe hours: 8077 - Engines: Lycoming O-329-E-2-D 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Paul A. Bennett - Registered owner: Blue Ridge Mountain Flyers Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 20, 2002, 13 hours before - Departed: AJR, Cornelia, GA - Airport: 9AO, Lumpkin County-Wimpys, runway 15, 3,035 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 76 total, 76 in this make and model, 18 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 100° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: GVL, 17 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 20020805020179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020805020179A), Aug 5, 2002: Cessna 172M, Dahlonega, GA, No damage. (-23) The pilot has very limited night time experience and failed to flare his aircraft while landing. The hard landing caused the aircraft to bounce and touch… ## Other investigations on N8954V (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 CHI85LA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85LA243), Jun 16, 1985: Cessna 172 M (N8954V), Decatur, IN, substantial damage 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.