Cessna 177 accident near Locust Grove, Georgia, April 29, 2002
On April 29, 2002 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N2809X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Locust Grove, Georgia (Mallards Landing airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot improper flare during an aborted takeoff, followed by an subsequent hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 2002 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Locust Grove, Georgia · Mallards Landing · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N2809X · registry record · serial 17700209
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted the runway during an aborted takeoff. According to the pilot, during the takeoff, he experienced gusty wind conditions and decided to abort the take-off. The airplane landed hard on the runway surface, and was damaged.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 570 hours in all; 235 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 496 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 17, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,555 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2002; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GA04 Locust Grove GA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from ATL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.