Cessna 182J accident near Kennasaw, Georgia, January 3, 1987
On January 3, 1987 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182J, registered N3473F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kennasaw, Georgia (Mccollum 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
- January 3, 1987 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Kennasaw, Georgia · Mccollum · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182J · all 182Js on the register
- Registration
- N3473F · registry record · serial 18257473
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING INITIAL CLIMB FOR A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY DOWNWIND LANDING. HE REPORTED THAT THE POWER INCREASED AND HE DECIDED TO MAKE A NORMAL APPROACH TO THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT OVERSHOT THE FINAL APPROACH AND BEGAN TO LOSE POWER ONCE AGAIN. THE PILOT DECIDED TO STALL THE AIRCRAFT IN TALL PINE TREES. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE THE AIRCRAFT HELD POSITION WAITING FOR A TAKEOFF FOR APPROX 15 MINUTES. THE PILOT DID NOT CHECK CARBURETOR HEAT PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE FOR INDUCTION ICING.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,657 hours in all; 411 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,837 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 20, 1986; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8A4 Kennesaw GA at 8:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,591 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from MGE, 12 miles away
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.