Cessna 172 accident near Hartsville, Tennessee, January 21, 1989
On January 21, 1989 at about 6:03 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N5834A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hartsville, Tennessee (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT ALLOWING THE AIRCRAFT TO LIFT-OFF PREMATURLY AT A SLOW AIRSPEED AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BEFORE INADVERTENTLY ENTERING A STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S EXPERIENCE LEVEL AND LACK OF QUALIFICATIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 1989 · about 6:03 pm local time
- Place
- Hartsville, Tennessee · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5834A · no longer on the register · serial 28434
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
TAKEOFF WAS FROM A PRIVATE STRIP IN A COW PASTURE. THE 1ST HALF OF THE STRIP WAS ON THE CROWN OF A HILL. IT SLOPED DOWN PAST THE MID-POINT OF THE RWY. THE PAX IN THE REAR SEAT SURVIVED & RPTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE HIT A LITTLE DITCH, BECAME AIRBORNE, TURNED LEFT, & CLIMBED WITH A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE ENG 'DID NOT MISS A LICK,' HE SAID. THE PLT'S WIFE WATCHED THE TAKEOFF & SAID WHEN THE ACFT LIFTED OFF THE GROUND IT STARTED A LEFT TURN & THEN COLLIDED WITH A TREE ABOUT 300 YARDS FROM THE LIFT-OFF POINT. AFTER THE COLLISION THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO TURN LEFT & HIT THE GROUND NOSE FIRST, VERTICALLY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY PRE-IMPACT MALFUNCTIONS THAT WOULD HAVE AFFECTED THE FLIGHT.
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
- Flight time: 33 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 21 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,257 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1988; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,320 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from BNA, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.