# NTSB ATL03LA098: Cessna 172N, N140PF, Hampton, GA, May 29, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 29, 2003, 15:20 local (19:20 UTC)
- Place: Hampton, GA
- Coordinates: 33.386665, -84.32611
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3867&lon=-84.3261&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Atlanta FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 57093
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL03LA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57093/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA098

## Probable cause

The certified flight instructor's failure to maintain clearance from the runway during a low pass. A factor was gusty wind conditions.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - runway (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), a low pass was conducted to demonstrate crosswind landing drift control. During the low pass the airplane encountered a strong gust of wind, and the right wing tip impacted the runway. The airplane cartwheeled and came to rest on the runway. No mechanical or flight control malfunctions were reported by the pilots prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

On May 29, 2003, at 1520 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N140PF, registered to KD Enterprises Incorporated and operated Peachtree Flight Center collided with the runway while conducting a low pass at Tara-Field, Hampton, Georgia. The instructional flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot/ certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot reported minor injuries. The flight departed Falcon Field, Peachtree City, Georgia, on May 29, 2003, at 1455.

According to the CFI, during a flight demonstration on crosswind landing drift control, a low pass was conducted 50 feet over runway 24. During the low pass the airplane encountered a strong gust of wind, and the right wing tip struck the runway. The airplane cartwheeled and came to rest on the runway. No mechanical or flight control malfunctions were reported by the pilots prior to the accident.  At 1853, the nearest weather reporting facility recordered winds as 300 degrees at 19 knots with gust of 25 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N140PF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N140PF-2013-08-14), registration cancelled 2013-08-14, S/N 17273490, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17273490
- Airframe hours: 3690
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Peachtree Flight Center
- Registered owner: Kd Aviation Enterprises Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2003, 0 hours before
- Departed: FFC, ATLANTA, GA
- Destination: 4A7, Hampton
- Airport: 4A7, Clayton County - Tara Field, runway 240, 4,503 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 49; injuries: minor; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 1, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 2,960 total, 500 in this make and model, 2,925 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 19 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observed at: KATL, 15 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 20030529009589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030529009589A), May 29, 2003: Cessna 172N, Hampton, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) CFI dan parry and student everett stanfield departed falcon field (ffc) flew to tara field (4A7) to practice landing approaches. During their first…

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.

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