Cessna 170B accident near Suches, Georgia, November 15, 2003
On November 15, 2003 at about 9:18 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N2521D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Suches, Georgia (High Valley Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a go-round that resulted in an inadvertent stall and the subsequent collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 2003 · about 9:18 pm local time
- Place
- Suches, Georgia · High Valley Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2521D · registry record · serial 20673
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during a short local flight he made an attempt to land at a private airstrip. While on the short final the pilot initiated a go-around. As the pilot reduced the flaps the airplane began to descend towards the trees. According to the pilot, as he attempted to climb, the airplane stalled and collided with the trees. Examination of the airplane revealed the left outboard wing broke off and the airplane came to rest nose down at the base of the tree. No mechanical or flight control malfunctions were report 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 358 hours in all; 6 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 4, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,485 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 8, 2003; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental 0300B SP6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LZU Lawrenceville GA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: GA87 Suches GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 2,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from KMGE, 53 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.