Piper PA28 accident near Canton, Georgia, August 15, 2017
On August 15, 2017 at about 8:35 pm local time, a 1972 Piper PA28, registered N2804T, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Canton, Georgia (Cherokee County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Maintenance personnel's failure to ensure the proper throttle linkage travel clearance after the installation of an exhaust system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 2017 · about 8:35 pm local time
- Place
- Canton, Georgia · Cherokee County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 140, built 1972 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N2804T · no longer on the register · serial 28-7225235
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight instructor, during the takeoff roll, he noted that the airplane felt "sluggish." After checking all systems, he and the student pilot continued the takeoff. The flight instructor noted that, after climbing to 200 ft, the airspeed began to decrease while the engine continued to produce power. The flight instructor performed an emergency landing in a wooded area, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. An examination of the airplane revealed that the carburetor throttle linkage was striking against the exhaust shield, which prevented the carburetor throttle linkage from its full movement at full throttle. A review of the maintenance logbooks revealed that a new exhaust system was recently installed on the engine. It is likely that maintenance personnel failed to ensure that the throttle linkage was properly adjusted, which prevented the throttle from opening fully and resulted in the engine being unable to produce full static power.
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
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › Power lever › Not inspected
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,623 hours in all; 987 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,518 as pilot in command; 2,670 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 8, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 12 hours in all; 12 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,976.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 2017; 76 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 5,209 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CNI Canton GA at 8:35 pm
- Destination: CNI Canton GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 5,001 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 pm from CNI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on April 8, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Student Pilot Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Record of Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Record Excerpts | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.