Cessna 172 accident near Statesboro, Georgia, October 9, 2021
On October 9, 2021 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 1957 Cessna 172, registered N8592B, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Statesboro, Georgia (Statesboro-Bulloch County airport). It was an instructional 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 student pilot’s failure reduce power and apply sufficient braking after landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with objects and terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 2021 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Statesboro, Georgia · Statesboro-Bulloch County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172, built 1957 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N8592B · registry record · serial 36292
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country flight and was preparing to return to his home airport. After takeoff, he observed a storm cloud along his intended route of flight and elected to return to the airport to wait for it to pass. Prior to touching down, he observed an airplane on the opposing runway flying directly towards him. He veered to the right to avoid a collision and landed on the remaining runway, however, he stated that he panicked and failed to reduce power and apply sufficient braking. The airplane exited the runway, proceeded down an embankment and impacted an airport perimeter fence before it came to rest, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures reported that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Air traffic event during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Student/instructed pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear brakes system › Not used/operated
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 24 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,104.3 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 27, 2021; 23.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 1,292 hours total
- Operator: Aero Davis LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14/3, 6,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 6:35 pm from TBR
Weather report (METAR): METAR KTBR 092235Z AUTO 03003KT 10SM CLR 24/19 A2995 RMK AO2 T02410187=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on May 12, 2022. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot and Instructor Statements | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation_faa | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array_accident Site and Airplane Damage | PDF, 2 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.