Cessna 172M accident near Perry, Georgia, September 18, 2003
On September 18, 2003 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N13375, was substantially damaged in an accident near Perry, Georgia (Perry Middle Georgia Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane, and also causal was his failure to detect water-contaminated fuel which resulted in a loss of engine power and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2003 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Perry, Georgia · Perry Middle Georgia Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N13375 · registry record · serial 17262711
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot stated that during climb out, he heard a strange noise coming from the engine compartment. The certified flight instructor (CFI) took control of the airplane, and the student pilot stated that the airplane entered a right bank and the stall warning horn briefly sounded. A witness stated that after takeoff, the airplane did not seem to gain altitude or airspeed. The witness stated that the airplane was then observed descending in a right bank. The airplane collided with the ground and came to rest in a field approximately 1/4 mile southeast of the departure end of runway 36. Examination of the wreckage site the airplane came to rest upright with both wings attached to the fuselage. Both wings were crushed aft and both wingtips were separated from both wings. Buckling was observed over the top portion of the wing skin on both wings. The empennage was separated from the fuselage aft of the rear passenger seats. The engine compartment was displaced up and aft into the cockpit area. A review of information on file with the FAA Aircraft Division, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, revealed the airplane was granted a Supplemental Type Certificate on December 12, 1984, authorizing the use of unleaded automotive fuel. Examination of the fuel system revealed automotive fuel that was brown in color and contained debris and water. Water was observed in both fuel tanks and in the fuel strainer. The carburetor bowl, fuel inlet chamber, and fuel screen were stained and contained dirt and debris. During the post -accident examination of the engine and airframe, no mechanical anomalies were identified. The CFI maintained a 55 gallon plastic refueling tank at the airport where the airplane was parked. Examination of the refueling tank revealed approximately one-fourth of an inch of sediment at the bottom of the tank. The fuel was brown in color and contained water and debris that was brown in color. The fuel filter on the tank was dark in color and contained sediment, and debris was observed around the seal of the fuel tank.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,345 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 20, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,218.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2002; 2,201 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 68GA Perry GA at 9:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,800 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from MCN, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N13375 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL03FA142.