Cessna 172G accident near Millen, Georgia, January 11, 1992
On January 11, 1992 at about 3:05 pm local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N5866R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Millen, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY USE CARBURETOR HEAT DURING ICING CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 11, 1992 · about 3:05 pm local time
- Place
- Millen, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N5866R · registry record · serial 17253535
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE TO SAVANNAH, GEORGIA AT 5000 FEET, THE PILOT REPORTED A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER. REPORTEDLY, HE CHANGED THE MIXTURE SETTING AND APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESTORE FULL POWER, BUT THE ENGINE POWER REDUCTION CONTINUED TO A POINT WHERE POWERED FLIGHT WAS NO LONGER POSSIBLE. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE GROUND ROLL OUT, THE AIRPLANE ROLLED THROUGH A FENCE, CROSSED A ROAD, AND FLIPPED INVERTED AFTER COLLIDING WITH A SECOND FENCE. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO THE ICING PROBABILITY CURVE, WEATHER CONDITIONS NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 242 hours in all; 171 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 158 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,717 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 3, 1991; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Georgia Flight INC.
The flight
- Departed from: AHN Athens GA at 2:02 pm
- Destination: SAV Savannah GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from SAV, 40 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.