Cessna 172M accident near Perry, Georgia, August 29, 1982
On August 29, 1982, a Cessna 172M, registered N1586V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Perry, Georgia (Perry-Fort Valley airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- August 29, 1982
- Place
- Perry, Georgia · Perry-Fort Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N1586V · no longer on the register · serial 17263682
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT DEPARTED PERRY, GA ON A SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT TO AUGUSTA AND JESSUP, GA. HE WAS EXPECTED TO RETURN TO PERRY AT ABOUT 1600 EDT. THE FLIGHT PROGRESSED UNEVENTFULLY TO JESSUP WHERE IT WAS DELAYED BY A THUNDERSTORM. AFTER DEPARTING JESSUP, THE PILOT BECAME LOST AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM MACON APPROACH CONTROL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE STUDENT RETURNED TO PERRY AFTER NIGHT FALL HE ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING, BUT GOT TOO LOW ON FINAL APPROACH, CONTACTED THE TOP OF A 100 FT PINE TREE, AND CRASHED. IT WAS LEARNED THAT BEFORE DEPARTING JESSUP, THE PILOT HAD SET HIS ALTIMETER TO THE ELEVATION AT THE PERRY-FORT VALLEY AIRPORT. WITH THAT SETTING, THE ALTIMETER INDICATED ABOUT 300 FT HIGHER THAN THE ACTUAL ALTITUDE.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 85 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 23 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,040 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Brown Aero, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: JES Jessup GA at 6:50 pm
- Destination: Clemson SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 180°F (82°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from MCN, 13 miles away
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.