Cessna 172N accident near Hampton, Georgia, May 29, 2003
On May 29, 2003 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N140PF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hampton, Georgia (Clayton County - Tara Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The certified flight instructor's failure to maintain clearance from the runway during a low pass. A factor was gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2003 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Hampton, Georgia · Clayton County - Tara Field · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N140PF · no longer on the register · serial 17273490
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), a low pass was conducted to demonstrate crosswind landing drift control. During the low pass the airplane encountered a strong gust of wind, and the right wing tip impacted the runway. The airplane cartwheeled and came to rest on the runway. No mechanical or flight control malfunctions were reported by the pilots 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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,960 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 2,925 as pilot in command; 1,110 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,690 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2003; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FFC Atlanta GA at 6:55 pm
- Destination: 4A7 Hampton
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 240, 4,503 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 19 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from KATL, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.