Cessna 172N accident near Swainsboro, Georgia, March 16, 1989
On March 16, 1989 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N73944, was substantially damaged in an accident near Swainsboro, Georgia (Josh Lewis airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO LAND AT AN UNLIGHTED AIRSTRIP IN LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS, AND HER SUBSEQUENT, INADVERTENT SELECTIONOF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN BORDERING THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 1989 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Swainsboro, Georgia · Josh Lewis · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N73944 · no longer on the register · serial 17267760
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND AT THE UNLIGHTED, TURF AIRSTRIP IN DUSK LIGHT CONDITIONS. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN PLOWED DIRT BORDERING THE RWY AND NOSED OVER DURING ROLLOUT. THE PLT HAD NO PREVIOUS FLT EXPERIENCE AT THE AIRSTRIP. EXAMINATION OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE AIRSTRIP REVEALED THAT THE DIRT AREA WAS APPROXIMATELY THE SAME LENGTH & WIDTH AS THE RWY, AND LIGHTER IN COLOR THAN THE RWY & SURROUNDING TERRAIN. THE DIRT AREA STOOD OUT IN CONTRAST COMPARED TO THE RWY AND OTHER SURROUNDING TERRAIN.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 328 hours in all; 198 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 235 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PDK Chamblee GA at 10:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 280° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.