Cessna 152 accident near Acworth, Georgia, February 9, 1985
On February 9, 1985 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5317Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Acworth, Georgia. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 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
- February 9, 1985 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Acworth, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5317Q · no longer on the register · serial 15285700
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CONTACTED POWER LINES AND DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED TO THE TERRAIN DURING THE RECOVERY PHASE OF A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING. THE SIMULATED FORCED LANDING WAS INITIATED BY THE CFI AT AN ALT OF APRX 800 FT AGL OVER THE MEDIAN STRIP OF HWY 75. THE STUDENT SUCCESSFULLY FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH THE SIMULATED FORCED LANDING UNTIL AN ALT OF APRX 150 FT AGL WAS REACHED AT WHICH TIME THE CFI TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS FOR RECOVERY. A FEW SECONDS AFTER APPLYING POWER TO CLIMB, BOTH PLTS SAW HIGH TENSION WIRES IN THE FLT PATH. THE CFI PUSHED THE NOSE OF THE ACFT DOWN IN AN ATTEMPT TO FLY UNDER THE LINES, HOWEVER, THE ACFT CONTACTED THE LINES AND THE ACFT CAME TO REST INVERTED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 325 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,338 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 18, 1985; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Red Baroness Flight Dept. INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Kennesaw GA at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 pm from FTY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.