Amateur-built A75L3 accident near Gainesville, Georgia, April 14, 2003
On April 14, 2003 at about 5:15 pm local time, a amateur-built A75L3, registered N4908N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gainesville, Georgia (Lee Gilmer Memorial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll resulting in an inadvertent ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 2003 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Gainesville, Georgia · Lee Gilmer Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built A75L3
- Registration
- N4908N · registry record · serial A75l3
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and passenger departed for a sightseeing/pleasure flight over Lake Lanier, with intentions to stop in Gainesville for refreshments. According to the pilot, he checked the prevailing wind information for the approach at the airport. The prevailing winds were reported at 140 degree at six knots; the pilot chose runway 11 for the approach and landing. The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the airplane ground looped to the left. No mechanical or flight control problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot prior to the accident.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 420 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 346 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 4, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,978 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2002; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental R-670-5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PDK Atlanta GA at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 4,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from GVL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 ATL03LA079.