Cessna 172 accident near Atlanta, Georgia, October 21, 2021
On October 21, 2021 at about 11:20 pm local time, a 1956 Cessna 172, registered N6888A, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Atlanta, Georgia (Paulding Northwest Atlanta airport). It was a personal 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 pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and a collision with runway approach lighting equipment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 2021 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Paulding Northwest Atlanta · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172, built 1956 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6888A · no longer on the register · serial 28988
- 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 while on final approach, he entered a forward slip maneuver due to reduce altitude and airspeed, however, the airplane slowed down more than he anticipated, which required additional power. In the landing flare, the right main landing gear contacted the runway first and although he attempted to correct with rudder, directional control was lost, and the airplane veered off the runway to the left and impacted the precision approach path indicator approach lighting system. The fuselage, right wing, and elevator sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.
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 (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 121 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 85 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 24, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,384 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 1,457 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LMS Louisville MS at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 13/3, 5,505 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from PUJ
Weather report (METAR): KPUJ 212315Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 20/20 A3006 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 13, 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | 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.