Cessna C150 accident near Palmetto, Georgia, February 6, 2007
On February 6, 2007 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Cessna C150, registered N5843E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palmetto, Georgia (South Fulton 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind during the landing flare, which resulted in a loss of control and an in-flight collision with objects. A factor associated with the accident was a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 6, 2007 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Palmetto, Georgia · South Fulton
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C150
- Registration
- N5843E · registry record · serial 17343
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the student pilot, he was on left downwind for runway 27 at 2000 feet msl. He stated that he "turned base and final with nothing amiss. After I flared and before I touched down, I was caught off guard by a cross wind that turned the airplane to the left. I did not have enough airspeed to correct and struck brush and saplings on [the] left side of the runway." Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector found that the airplane had struck trees and a ditch, damaging the engine mounts and firewall, wrinkling the fuselage, and separating the right wingtip. There were no mechanical problems reported by the pilot or discovered during the postaccident examination of the airplane.
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: 35 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,160 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2006; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8A9 Palmetto GA at 9:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,690 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from ATL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.