Cessna 172S accident near Jekyll Island, Georgia, May 16, 2010
On May 16, 2010 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172S, registered N53039, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Jekyll Island, Georgia (Jekyll Island Airport). It was a personal 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
The pilot's loss of airplane control while landing with a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 2010 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Jekyll Island, Georgia · Jekyll Island Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N53039 · registry record · serial 172S9259
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After landing with a 5-knot crosswind, the pilot noticed a shimmy in the nosewheel and pulled back on the yoke in an effort to raise the nose and offload the strut. Consequently, the airplane became airborne and bounced twice down the runway. The nose gear strut collapsed on the second impact, resulting in a prop strike and substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot stated that he did not correct for the crosswind during the approach. He reported no preimpact mechanical abnormalities with the airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 142 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 78 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 5, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,000 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 12, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Savannah Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: SAV Savannah GA at 2:30 pm
- Destination: 09J Jekyll Island GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,715 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from SSI, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.