# NTSB ERA26LA272: Cessna 170B, N1838C, Hartwell, GA, July 10, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 10, 2026, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Hartwell, GA · airport turf runway - Coordinates: 34.377344, -82.897148 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3773&lon=-82.8971&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 3, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 203398 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA272 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203398/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203398 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA272 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to compensate for the gusty and variable wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with trees during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 91 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot was attempting to take off from a grass runway in variable wind and light rain. During the takeoff, when the airplane was about 30 ft above the ground, the airplane rolled right toward trees on the side of the runway. The pilot was able to roll the airplane’s wings level; however, he was unable to avoid colliding with trees, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A witness recorded video of the takeoff that captured both the airplane and a windsock. Review of the video revealed that the wind had shifted to a right crosswind during the airplane’s initial climb, immediately before the airplane rolled nearly 45 degrees, consistent with the pilot’s description of the airplane rolling to the right. The wind then shifted suddenly to a left quartering headwind as the airplane began to level; however, the airplane continued toward the trees off the right side of the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1838C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1838C), registered now, S/N 25982, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25982 - Year built: 1953 - Airframe hours: 2632 - Engines: Continental C-145-A-7 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2026 - Destination: 52A, Madison, GA - Airport: 0GA1, Mustang Fld, runway 13/31, 2,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 27, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 20,455 total, 17.8 in this make and model, 15,932 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 2.8 in the last 30 days, 0.8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KAND, 12 nm away - METAR: SPECI KAND 102004Z AUTO 19015KT 10SM SCT046 32/22 A3001 RMK AO2 WSHFT 1944 LTG DSNT ALQDS ## 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 20260710010389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260710010389A), Jul 10, 2026: Cessna 170B, Hartwell, GA, Substantial damage. On climb out from runway 13 at 0GA1 airport, at an altitdue of about 30 feet, the aircraft experienced a sudden crosswind from the southwest that instantly… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 3, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203398. 10.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 6.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20706095&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 834 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20705516&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-Rel.pdf - Witness video (item 3, MOV, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20705614&FileExtension=mov&FileName=N1838C%20CRASH%20VIDEO-Rel.mov 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.