Cessna 172N accident near Cumberland Isla, Georgia, January 30, 1982
On January 30, 1982 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N734YY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cumberland Isla, Georgia (Candler Highpoint airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 30, 1982 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Cumberland Isla, Georgia · Candler Highpoint · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N734YY · no longer on the register · serial 17269232
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 2500 FT RUNWAY HAD TREES ON 3 SIDES. THE NORMAL PATTERN FOR LANDING WAS FROM EAST TO WEST AND DEPARTURES WERE NORMALLY FROM WEST TO EAST. A LONG, SHALLOW, TAILWIND APPROACH WAS MADE FROM THE EAST AT ABOUT 65 KNOTS. THE PILOT USED 40 DEGREES OF FLAPS AND MAINTAINED ABOUT 1400 TO 1500 RPM UNTIL AFTER LANDING. IMMEDIATELY, HE REALIZED HE HAD TOO MUCH SPEED AND CHOPPED HIS POWER. THE AIRCRAFT HIT A DIP AND LIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY. BY THIS TIME, THE PILOT WAS COMMITTED TO THE LANDING, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE RUNWAY. HE CONTINUED OFF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE PROCEDURE FOR A SHORT FIELD LANDING WITH FULL FLAPS (40 DEGREES) IS TO HOLD 60 KNOTS UNTIL THE FLARE, REDUCE POWER TO IDLE AFTER CLEARING OBSTACLES, TOUCH DOWN ON MAIN WHEELS FIRST, APPLY HEAVY BRAKES, AND RETRACT THE FLAPS.
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: 55 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 30 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,900 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: St. Simons Isla GA at 2:50 pm
- Destination: 1J1 Cumberland Isla GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,500 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 154°F (68°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 pm from BWK, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.