Cessna 172 accident near Franklin, Georgia, June 20, 1989
On June 20, 1989 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N1434Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Franklin, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT BY ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM AN UNSUITABLE FIELD AND HIS DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF. THE TERRAIN CONDITIONS AND FENCE WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 1989 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N1434Y · registry record · serial 17249134
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT ENCOUNTERED BAD WX DURING FLT & MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD THAT WAS SHORT, ROUGH & WET. WHEN HE TRIED TO TAKEOFF FROM THE FIELD A SHORT TIME LATER, THE AIRPLANE DID NOT ATTAIN ENOUGH AIRSPEED TO FLY. THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF, BUT BEFORE STOPPING, THE AIRPLANE HIT A FENCE & 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 207 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 167 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,332 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 4, 1988; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Thomaston GA at 1:00 pm
- Destination: Talladega AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 12 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 28,000 ft; ovct at 400 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from ATL
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.