# NTSB ATL90FA081: Cessna 172N, N734JE, Montezuma, GA, March 17, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 17, 1990, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Montezuma, GA
- Coordinates: 32.291, -84.01979 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2910&lon=-84.0198&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8118
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL90FA081
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8118/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90FA081

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED DURING THE TAKEOFF.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT WAS CONDUCTING INSTRUMENT TRAINING WITH THE PRIVATE PILOT. WITNESSES STATED THAT DURING TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO BE IN A VERY NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT MADE A SHARP LEFT TURN FOLLOWED BY A STEEP NOSE DOWN DESCENT AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY THE IMPACT AND THE POST CRASH FIRE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N734JE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N734JE-1992-02-20), registration cancelled 1992-02-20, S/N 17268883 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17268883
- Airframe hours: 2755
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lowe Aviation Co., Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 14, 1990, 3 hours before
- Destination: MCN, MACON, GA
- Airport: 53A, Savage Municipal, runway 36, 3,200 × 75 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,620 total, 2,384 as pilot in command, 235 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MCN, 30 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 19900317004539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900317004539A), Mar 17, 1990: Cessna 172N, Montezuma, GA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Stalled,crashed and burned during takeoff climb. Observed wobbly nose high climb prior to stall.

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.