The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB ATL86LA015 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Cessna 152 accident near Marietta, Georgia, October 25, 1985

On October 25, 1985 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N757MC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marietta, Georgia (Mcgollum airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
October 25, 1985 · about 10:30 pm local time
Place
Marietta, Georgia · Mcgollum
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
Registration
N757MC · registry record · serial 152-79840
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

DURING AN ATTEMPTED TOUCH AND GO LANDING THE STUDENT PLT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE ACFT. THE ACFT BALLOONED DURING TOUCHDOWN, VEERED OFF THE RWY AND NOSED OVER.

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: 42 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 21 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 4,270 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, March 22, 1985; 87 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Continental O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: 8A4 Marietta GA at 11:20 pm
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 9, 4,591 ft by 75 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 210° at 5 knots, gusting 10
  • Visibility: 9 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.