Cessna 172G accident near Jackson, Georgia, March 7, 1993
On March 7, 1993 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N5972R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jackson, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots inadequate preflight planning and his failure to properly compensate for the wind. A factor was the unfavorable wind condition at the time of take off.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 7, 1993 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Jackson, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N5972R · no longer on the register · serial 17253641
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT WAS DEPARTING RUNWAY 10, WHICH WAS DOWNWIND, AT THE PRIVATE SOD AIRFIELD. THE WINDS AT THE TIME WERE FROM 230 DEGREES AT 14 KNOTS GUSTING TO 27 KNOTS. THE RUNWAY AT THE AIRFIELD CROSSES A STEEP HILL AT ABOUT THE MIDPOINT OF THE RUNWAY. THERE WERE TREES, APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET IN HEIGHT, LINING BOTH SIDES OF THE RUNWAY. WITNESSES STATED THAT, DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO HAVE THE FLAPS IN THE EXTENDED POSITION. THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A NOSE DOWN, LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT FLAPS WERE FOUND TO BE IN THE RETRACTED POSITION.
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: 330 hours in all; 330 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 279 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,831 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 4, 1992; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 03GA
- Destination: TCL Tuscaloosa AL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 10, 3,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 14 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from ATL, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.