Cessna 305A accident near Woodstock, Georgia, May 18, 1990
On May 18, 1990 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 305A, registered N201FM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Woodstock, Georgia (Air Acres airport). 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
AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 1990 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Woodstock, Georgia · Air Acres · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 305A · all 305As on the register
- Registration
- N201FM · no longer on the register · serial 22488
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A RESTART BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. AFTER CLEARING SOME POWER LINES, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES ABOUT 900 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AFTER THE FLIGHT REVEALED THAT ALL TOP SPARK PLUGS WERE VERY CLEAN. THE NUMBER 6 CYLINDER WAS REMOVED AND INSPECTED. THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, PISTON, AND EXHAUST WERE ALSO VERY CLEAN. SOME REMAINING CARBON ON THE PISTON HEAD WAS VERY LOOSE. THE GASCOLATOR BOWL WAS REMOVED AND WATER WAS OBSERVED INSIDE THE BOWL. THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN UP TO 2000 RPM WITH NO PROBLEMS OBSERVED.
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: 172 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 120 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,449 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 1990; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O470-11B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ATH Athens GA at 7:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from ATL, 29 miles away
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 N201FM 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.