Piper PA-22-150 accident near Thomaston, Georgia, January 6, 2011
On January 6, 2011 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N5706D, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Thomaston, Georgia (Thomaston-Upson County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The mechanic's failure to install a cotter retaining pin in the throttle arm retaining nut resulting in excessive throttle play and loss of engine power control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 6, 2011 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Thomaston, Georgia · Thomaston-Upson County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N5706D · registry record · serial 22-4402
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the airplane had returned to service after being restored by an airframe and powerplant mechanic with inspection authorization. The pilot performed several takeoffs and landings prior to the accident flight, and noted that the airplane seemed to operate normally. The pilot departed to another airport where he completed a simulated instrument approach to about 50 feet above the runway. He then commenced a go-around over the departure end of the runway with the airplane about 300 feet above the ground. The engine experienced a partial loss of power and the pilot maneuvered the airplane a hay field, where he performed a forced landing. During the landing roll, the horizontal stabilizer struck a hay bale resulting in substantial damage to the empennage. A postaccident examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that a cotter pin was not installed on the throttle arm retaining nut. The throttle arm retaining nut was finger tight and the throttle arm was loose, which resulted in excessive play in the throttle linkage.
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 engine power (partial) during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Ground collision during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 24,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 2, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,147 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2011; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OPN Thomaston GA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 5A9 Warm Springs GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 6,350 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 7:20 pm from OPN, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.