Cessna 177B accident near Cartersville, Georgia, June 2, 2014
On June 2, 2014 at about 3:20 pm local time, a 1970 Cessna 177B, registered N30820, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Cartersville, Georgia (Cartersville 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a go-around after landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 2014 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Cartersville, Georgia · Cartersville Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B, built 1970 · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N30820 · no longer on the register · serial 17701483
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had intended to perform a touch-and-go landing in to the wind; however, traffic was landing and departing in the opposite direction on the 5,760-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot then listened to the automated surface observation system, which indicated the wind was variable and he elected to land in the direction of the other traffic. During short final approach, the pilot noticed his airspeed was about 10 mph faster than normal and the airplane bounced after touchdown. The pilot added power to cushion the second bounce and the airplane began to drift left toward the left side of the runway. Before he could correct for the drift, the airplane bounced a second time. The pilot then added full power to perform a go-around, but the airplane struck a runway sign off the left side of the runway and came to rest upright in a grass area between the runway and taxiway. The pilot further stated that winds were light and variable and that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the firewall and horizontal stabilizer. The recorded wind at the airport, about 30 minutes before and after the accident, was a right crosswind at 6 knots with a 10-degree tailwind component.
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 (aborted after touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (aborted after touchdown)
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 › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 321 hours in all; 260 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 256 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 5, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,865 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 2014; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 873 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PUJ Dallas GA at 3:00 pm
- Destination: VPC Cartersville GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 5,760 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:53 pm from VPC
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.