Cessna 172N accident near Chamblee, Georgia, November 29, 1990
On November 29, 1990 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N6168F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chamblee, Georgia (Dekalb-Peachtree airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE WINGTIP CLEARANCE DURING TAXI.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 29, 1990 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Chamblee, Georgia · Dekalb-Peachtree · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6168F · no longer on the register · serial 17273159
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE PILOT WAS TAXIING TO PARK AT THE AIRPORT, THE LEFT WING CONTACTED A TWO-FOOT DIAMETER STEEL POLE, WHICH SUPPORTS A LARGE PARKING CANOPY. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS WATCHING THE LINESMAN WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE LINE MAN DID NOT GIVE HIM INSTRUCTIONS TO STOP OR TURN, NOR DID HE GIVE HIM ANY INDICATION THAT HE WAS TOO CLOSE THE OBSTRUCTION.
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: 85 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 47 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 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: Columbia SC at 3:20 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 19 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from ATL, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.