Bellanca CH-300 accident near Peachtree City, Georgia, September 17, 2003
On September 17, 2003 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Bellanca CH-300, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N796W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Peachtree City, Georgia (Falcon Field). 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots failure to maintain directional control during landing roll that resulted in a ground loop and subsequent collapse of the main landing gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 2003 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Peachtree City, Georgia · Falcon Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca CH-300, amateur-built
- Registration
- N796W · registry record · serial 3004
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the flight was undetermined, however, according to the pilot, they were on a normal approach for a 3-point landing on Runway 13. After the airplane touched down half way down the runway, the pilot began to make minor corrections with the rudder to maintain directional control during the landing roll. The pilot further reported that the airplane veered off the left side, two-thirds down the runway, ground looped, followed by the collapse of the left main landing gear. The pilot did not report a mechanical malfunction with the airplane. The examination of the airplane also failed to disclose a mechanical problem. The pilot stated that this accident could have been prevented with "better rudder control by the operator."
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
Crew member
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R 985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FFC Peachtree City GA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: FFC Peachtree City GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 5,220 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from ATL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N796W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.