Amateur-built Freebird accident near Newnan, Georgia, September 27, 2003
On September 27, 2003 at about 1:45 pm local time, a amateur-built Freebird, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newnan, Georgia (Newnan Coweta County airport). It was a personal flight under ultralight rules (Part 103). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the aileron control rod, and subsequent loss of control in-flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 2003 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Newnan, Georgia · Newnan Coweta County · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Freebird
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during climb out from runway 14, the airplane began a slow right turn. The pilot attempted to make a correction but the flight controls did not respond. The pilot reduced power and the airplane turned hard to the right and impacted the ground. Examination of the flight controls revealed the aileron control rod was broken at the stick.
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
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 960 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: 2Si 67L-70 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CCO Newnan GA at 1:40 pm
- Destination: CCO Newnan GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 1:40 pm from CCO
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 UNREG 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.