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Accidents · NTSB ATL06CA117 · Final report

Cessna 172S accident near Thomson, Georgia, August 3, 2006

On August 3, 2006 at about 3:55 pm local time, a Cessna 172S, registered N124CK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Thomson, Georgia (Thomson-Mcduffie Co Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll resulting in an on-ground collision with an embankment.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
August 3, 2006 · about 3:55 pm local time
Place
Thomson, Georgia · Thomson-Mcduffie Co Airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
Registration
N124CK · registry record · serial 172S9808
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The student pilot stated that she was making a full stop landing with full flaps. The airplane touched down on the runway and veered to the left. The student pilot applied right rudder and lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane continued off the right side of the runway into the grass and collided with an embankment. The student pilot stated that she did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed the engine firewall was bent.

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

Dual student

  • Certificate: student
  • Flight time: 28 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 295 hours
  • Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 2006
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: KHQU Thomson GA at 2:00 pm
  • Destination: KHQU
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 28, 5,200 ft by 100 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 240° at 3 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
  • Observation at 3:40 pm from KHQU

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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 N124CK the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time

2016-06-08GAA16CA295 · accident near Thomson, GA · substantial damage · no injuries

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.