Cessna 170A and Cessna R172K accident near Athens, Georgia, April 13, 1988
On April 13, 1988 at about 11:20 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 170A (N1213D) and Cessna R172K (N736LL), were involved in the same accident near Athens, Georgia (Athens/Ben Epps airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 1988 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Athens, Georgia · Athens/Ben Epps
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 170A · all 170As on the register
- Registration
- N1213D · no longer on the register · serial 19767
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna R172K · all R172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N736LL · registry record · serial R1722611
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 170A final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT OF A CESSNA 170A HAD DEPARTED ALBANY, GA VFR WITH NO FLT PLAN FOR ATHENS, GA. A CESSNA R172K FROM THE ATHENS AIRPORT WAS ENGAGED IN LOCAL FLYING. THE 172 RETD FROM DOING AIRWORK AND WAS MAKING A FULL STOP LDG. DURING HIS LANDING ROLL THE PLT REPTD THAT HIS AIRPLANE SUDDENLY YAWED 90 DEGS TO THE LEFT AND SKIDDED DOWN THE RUNWAY TO A STOP. HE STATED THAT WHEN HE EXITED HIS AIRPLANE HE SAW THE 170 RESTING ON HIS TAIL. THE 170 PLT STATED THAT HE STARTED CALLING ATHENS ATCT ABOUT 10 MILES OUT AND CONTINUED REPTG HIS POSITION UNTIL 1/2 MILE FINAL. THE PLT REPTD THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE 172 AS IT WAS DIRECTLY BELOW HIM. HE STATED THAT HIS AIRPLANE SETTLED ONTO THE 172 DURING HIS FLARE FOR LDG. THE VFR CHART, CURRENT AT THE TIME DEPICTED ATHENS AS A CONTROLLED FIELD WITH AN APT TRAFFIC AREA ALTHOUGH THE TABLE IN THE CHART LEGEND INDICATED THAT THE ATCT WAS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. THE TOWER HAD BEEN CLOSED SINCE 1981.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna R172K final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT OF A CESSNA 170A HAD DEPARTED ALBANY, GA VFR WITH NO FLT PLAN FOR ATHENS, GA. A CESSNA R172K FROM THE ATHENS AIRPORT WAS ENGAGED IN LOCAL FLYING. THE 172 RETD FROM DOING AIRWORK AND WAS MAKING A FULL STOP LDG. DURING HIS LANDING ROLL THE PLT REPTD THAT HIS AIRPLANE SUDDENLY YAWED 90 DEGS TO THE LEFT AND SKIDDED DOWN THE RUNWAY TO A STOP. HE STATED THAT WHEN HE EXITED HIS AIRPLANE HE SAW THE 170 RESTING ON HIS TAIL. THE 170 PLT STATED THAT HE STARTED CALLING ATHENS ATCT ABOUT 10 MILES OUT AND CONTINUED REPTG HIS POSITION UNTIL 1/2 MILE FINAL. THE PLT REPTD THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE 172 AS IT WAS DIRECTLY BELOW HIM. HE STATED THAT HIS AIRPLANE SETTLED ONTO THE 172 DURING HIS FLARE FOR LDG. THE VFR CHART, CURRENT AT THE TIME DEPICTED ATHENS AS A CONTROLLED FIELD WITH AN APT TRAFFIC AREA ALTHOUGH THE TABLE IN THE CHART LEGEND INDICATED THAT THE ATCT WAS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. THE TOWER HAD BEEN CLOSED SINCE 1981.
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 for the Cessna 170A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,068 hours in all; 440 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,812 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 11, 1988; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABY Albany GA at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:25 pm from AHN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna R172K from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 205 hours in all; 202 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 166 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,025 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 5, 1987; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL88LA141.