Cessna 172P accident near Atlanta, Georgia, March 19, 1984
On March 19, 1984, a Cessna 172P, registered N53655, was substantially damaged in an accident near Atlanta, Georgia (Atlanta/Thl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- March 19, 1984
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Atlanta/Thl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N53655 · no longer on the register · serial 17274796
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH HIS RADIOS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/ENG GAGES & AMMETER, SO HE TURNED OFF HIS ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT & PREPARED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. BECAUSE HE WAS AFRAID OF FUEL EXHAUSTION, HIS SPACING BEHIND ANOTHER ACFT IN THE LANDING PATTERN WAS CLOSE & HE ENCOUNTERED WAKE TURBULENCE AS HE FLARED. THE RGT WING HIT THEGROUND & THE ACFT SLID TO A STOP. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD, THERE WAS A FAULTY BATTERY CONTACTOR & THE STARTER WAS ENGAGED. DURING A TEST FLT AFTER REPAIRS, THE ALTERNATOR CONTROL UNIT MALFUNCTIONED. IT WAS CHANGED & NO FURTHER DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED.
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: 372 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 285 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 111 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TV1 Thomasville GA
- Destination: 8A4 Marietta GA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27L, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.