Cessna 172E and Boeing A75N1 accident near Marietta, Georgia, May 1, 1982
On May 1, 1982 at about 8:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172E (N3715S) and Boeing A75N1 (N74189), were involved in the same accident near Marietta, Georgia (Mccollum airport). 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
- May 1, 1982 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Marietta, Georgia · Mccollum
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172E · all 172Es on the register
- Registration
- N3715S · registry record · serial 17250915
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing A75N1 · all A75N1s on the register
- Registration
- N74189 · no longer on the register · serial 75717
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172E final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA 172 PILOT PERFORMED HIS PREFLIGHT ENGINE RUN-UP ON THE TAXIWAY, THEN WAITED FOR A TWIN ENGINE AIRCRAFT TO LAND. HE REPORTED THAT AFTER THE TWIN ENGINE LANDED, HE RADIOED HIS INTENTION, DOUBLE CHECKED THE FINAL APPROACH AREA, AND WITH NO OTHER AIRCRAFT IN SIGHT, HE TAXIED ONTO THE RUNWAY. WHILE THE CESSNA 172 PILOT WAS WAITING FOR THE TWIN ENGINE AIRCRAFT TO LAND, A BOEING A75N1 (STEARMAN) PILOT EXTENDED HIS PATTERN AND TURNED ON A LONG FINAL APPROACH. THE STEARMAN PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DID THIS TO ALLOW THE TWIN ENGINE PLANE TO LAND AHEAD OF HIM. AS THE STEARMAN PILOT CONTINUED, HE DID NOT SEE THE BEIGE COLORED CESSNA 172 TAXI ONTO THE RUNWAY. HE REPORTED THAT THE VISIBILITY WAS POOR FROM THE BACK SEAT. ALSO, THE STEARMAN WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A RADIO. AS THE CESSNA PILOT ADVANCED HIS POWER TO TAKEOFF, HIS LEFT WING WAS STRUCK BY THE STEARMAN'S LANDING GEAR.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Boeing A75N1 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BOEING A75N1 (STEARMAN) PILOT REPORTED THAT A LONG FINAL APPROACH WAS FLOWN TO ALLOW ROOM FOR A TWIN ENGINE AIRCRAFT TO LAND IN FRONT OF HIM. HE CONTINUED LANDING, BUT DID NOT SEE A BEIGE COLORED CESSNA 172 ON THE RUNWAY. HE REPORTED THAT THE VISIBILITY WAS VERY POOR FROM THE BACK SEAT OF THE STEARMAN. AS HE WAS ABOUT TO TOUCHDOWN, THE LANDING GEAR STRUCK THE LEFT WING OF THE CESSNA 172. THE PILOT HEARD THE SOUND OF METAL, BUT WAS UNAWARE THAT HIS PLANE HAD HIT ANOTHER AIRCRAFT UNTIL HE TAXIED TO THE HANGAR. THE CESSNA PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD WAITED FOR THE TWIN ENGINE TO LAND, ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION ON THE RADIO, BUT SAW NO AIRCRAFT ON FINAL. HE TAXIED ONTO THE RUNWAY TO HOLD, AND THEN AS HE ADVANCED POWER TO TAKEOFF, THE COLLISION OCCURRED. THE STEARMAN WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A RADIO.
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 for the Cessna 172E from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,112 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,835 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8A4 Marietta GA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: 8A4 Marietta GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 4,580 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Boeing A75N1 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 485 hours in all; 485 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 374 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,163 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P & W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8A4 Marietta GA at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 8A4 Marietta GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 4,580 ft by 75 ft
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.