# NTSB ATL04CA089: Cessna 172N, N4874G, Statesboro, GA, April 3, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 3, 2004, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Statesboro, GA - Coordinates: 32.365001, -81.786392 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3650&lon=-81.7864&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 58997 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04CA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58997/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04CA089 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to establish a positive climb and his failure to maintain clearance during a go-around, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. A factor was the gusting winds. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - object - tree(s) - climb - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During approach to the private airstrip, the pilot initiated a go-around, and the airplane did not climb. The pilot stated it felt like the headwind decreased, and the airplane did not gain enough airspeed for the climb. He stated he lowered the nose to gain airspeed and turned to the right to avoid trees. The airplane struck trees with its right wing. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the airplane. The nearest weather observation station, Statesboro, Georgia, reported at 1400 winds were from 290 degrees at 6 knots with gusts to 17 knots, and at 1420 winds were from 300 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 22 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 3, 2004, about 1400 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172N, N4874G, registered to and operated by Pegasus Air LLC, collided with trees during a go-around at a private airstrip in the vicinity of Statesboro, Georgia. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The commercial pilot and the private pilot-rated passenger were not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local flight departed Statesboro Bulloch County Airport in Statesboro, Georgia, about 1330 on April 3, 2004. The pilot stated he and the passenger flew around the local area to look at a house. The pilot stated that, on their way back toward Statesboro, he and the passenger saw a private airstrip owned by an acquaintance of the passenger. The airstrip had trees at each end of the runway, and the pilot executed a low approach to look at the airstrip. During the approach, the pilot initiated a go-around, and the airplane did not "want to climb". The pilot stated it felt like the airplane encountered wind shear and the headwind decreased, and the airplane did not gain enough airspeed for the climb. He stated he lowered the nose to gain airspeed and turned to the right to avoid trees. The airplane struck trees with its right wing as it started to climb. The pilot continued the climb to 2,000 feet mean sea level and returned to Statesboro Bulloch County Airport and landed. Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the outboard right wing and spar, and damage to both wing tip covers. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the airplane. The nearest weather observation station, Statesboro, Georgia, reported at 1400 winds were from 290 degrees at 6 knots with gusts to 17 knots, and at 1420 winds were from 300 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 22 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4874G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4874G-2018-01-24), registration cancelled 2018-01-24, S/N 17273421, 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: 17273421 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Pegasus Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KTBR, Statesboro, GA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 1,186 total, 865 in this make and model, 223 in the last 90 days, 81 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20040403035539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040403035539A), Apr 3, 2004: Cessna 172N, Statesboro, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) On Saturday April 3, 2004 N4874G piloted by [privacy data omitted] struck some trees, while doing a low pass over a grass field. The weather was clear,… ## Other investigations on N4874G (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 ATL05CA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA019), Nov 3, 2004: Cessna 172N (N4874G), Columbia, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight planning of fuel required for the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. 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.