- Date
- November 15, 2003, 16:18 local (21:18 UTC)
- Place
- Suches, GA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 4 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N2521DCessna 170B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 30, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Atlanta FSDO
- FAA report
- 20031115031099A
- Case key
- 58344
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a go-round that resulted in an inadvertent stall and the subsequent collision with trees.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
According to the pilot, during a short local flight he made an attempt to land at a private airstrip. While on the short final the pilot initiated a go-around. As the pilot reduced the flaps the airplane began to descend towards the trees. According to the pilot, as he attempted to climb, the airplane stalled and collided with the trees. Examination of the airplane revealed the left outboard wing broke off and the airplane came to rest nose down at the base of the tree. No mechanical or flight control malfunctions were report by the pilot prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
On November 15, 2003, at 1618 eastern standard time, a Cessna 170B, N2521D registered to and operated by a private pilot collided with a tree during an attempted go-around at High Valley Airpark, Suches, Georgia. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, with no flight plan filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot received serious injuries and the four passengers reported minor injuries. The flight departed Lawrenceville, Georgia, on November 15, 2003, at 1600.
According to the pilot, during a local flight he made an attempt to land at a private airstrip. While on short final to land on runway 02 the pilot decided he did not have enough runway available to stop the airplane after touchdown, and initiated a go-around. As the pilot reduced the flaps the airplane began to descend towards the trees. According to the pilot, as he attempted to climb, the airplane stalled and collided with the trees.
Examination of the airplane revealed the left outboard wing broke off and the airplane came to rest nose down at the base of the tree. No mechanical or flight control malfunctions were report by the pilot prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2521D
- Reported as
- Cessna 170B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20673
- Airframe hours
- 4,485
- Engine
- Continental 0300B SP6, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- David E Pease
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 8, 2003 · 0 hours before
- Departed
- LZU · Lawrenceville, GA
- Destination
- GA87 · Suches, GA
- Airport
- GA87 · High Valley Airpark, runway 20, 2,000 × 60 ft
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- May 4, 2003
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 358 total · 6 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.10 inHg
- Observed at
- KMGE, 53 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.