Cessna 175 accident near Soperton, Georgia, November 26, 1996
On November 26, 1996 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Cessna 175, registered N7582M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Soperton, Georgia (Cauley Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the pilot either to attain the proper touch down point for landing or to abort the landing while there was sufficient runway remaining. The terrain (ditch) at the end of the runway was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 26, 1996 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Soperton, Georgia · Cauley Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175 · all 175s on the register
- Registration
- N7582M · no longer on the register · serial 55882
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting a full stop landing on a grass strip and did not attain the proper touch down point. He reported there was a tail wind of about 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. He said he planned to land on the first 375 feet of the runway, but an updraft gust, during the approach and just prior to touchdown, caused the aircraft to cease its descent momentarily and prolonged the touchdown by 200 feet. He also stated that the aircraft maintained good directional control, but would not stop as quickly as needed. He said he attempted a ground loop at the end of the runway, but the aircraft responded to late to make the desired turn. The aircraft went off the departure end and into a drainage depression, then nosed over.
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: 1,769 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 1,694 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,963 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 1996; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A-335-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AYS Waycross GA at 4:58 pm
- Destination: 3GA8 Cauley GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 1,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from AMG, 48 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.
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.