Cessna 172M accident near Suchez, Georgia, April 30, 2011
On April 30, 2011 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N12839, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Suchez, Georgia (High Valley Airpark 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 failure of the pilot to initiate a go-around and his excessive airspeed on the final landing approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 30, 2011 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Suchez, Georgia · High Valley Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N12839 · no longer on the register · serial 17262303
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he overflew the airstrip to observe the windsock and noted that the wind favored runway 2, which was a 2,000 foot-long grass runway. He flew an approach to that runway, but executed a go-around because the airplane was too high. He remained in the traffic pattern and the airplane touched down at a point 800 to 1,000 feet from the approach end of the runway at 90 mph that was about 20 mph faster than normal. He later stated that at touchdown the wind shifted. After touchdown on the wet grass, he applied the brakes but the airplane would not stop. Because he was too far down the runway to perform a go-around, he continued on the ground with the brakes applied. The airplane traveled off the end of the runway where the right wing collided with a fence. The airplane then traveled through a ditch and came to rest upright in a field. The pilot reported that there was no preimpact failure or malfunction with the airplane or its systems. Postaccident inspection of the airplane and airstrip revealed damage to the right wing, including the lift strut. Marks on the runway revealed the airplane touched down about 800 feet before the departure end of the runway.
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
- Landing area overshoot during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,700 hours in all; 2,800 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 3,700 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 2, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,473 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 7, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DZJ Blairesville GA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: GA87 Suchez GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 2,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from GVL, 27 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.