Cessna 172N accident near Valdosta, Georgia, October 17, 1989
On October 17, 1989 at about 7:02 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N172SC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Valdosta, Georgia (Valdosta Regional airport). It was an aerial observation 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
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT (FAILURE TO SEE & AVOID THE OBSTRUCTION). CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE TRANSMISSION (POWER) LINE AND LACK OF VISUAL CUES (PILOT'S VISUAL PERCEPTION).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 17, 1989 · about 7:02 pm local time
- Place
- Valdosta, Georgia · Valdosta Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N172SC · no longer on the register · serial 172-68105
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THE PLT WAS PATROLLING A 115 KV POWER LINE, THE ACFT FLEW INTO A 230 KV LINE THAT CROSSED OVER THE 115 KV LINE. THE PLT FELT A 'JOLT' AS THE ACFT STRUCK THE 230 KV LINE, BUT THE ACFT CONTINUED FLYING. HE MADE A CONTROLLABILITY CHECK, THEN HE RETURNED TO THE ARPT & LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. AN EXAM REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING TIP, VERTICAL STABILIZER & RUDDER.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,039 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 98 in the last 90 days; 63 in the last 30 days; 7,669 as pilot in command; 1,825 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,423 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 1989; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VDL Valdosta GA at 6:50 pm
- Destination: VDL Valdosta GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:02 pm from VLD
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.
Other NTSB records under N172SC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.