Cessna 177B accident near Watkinsville, Georgia, April 26, 2023
On April 26, 2023 at about 6:25 pm local time, a 1975 Cessna 177B, registered N123DS, was destroyed in an accident during approach (IFR initial approach) near Watkinsville, Georgia (Barrow County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of airplane control, which resulted in an in-flight overload separation of the right wing during the uncontrolled descent.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 2023 · about 6:25 pm local time
- Place
- Watkinsville, Georgia · Barrow County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B, built 1975 · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N123DS · registry record · serial 17702373
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was approaching his destination airport under instrument flight rules (IFR) and in instrument meteorological conditions. The air traffic controller issued a northeasterly heading for the pilot to intercept the final approach course. The controller then informed the pilot that he would be vectored through the final approach course to accommodate preceding traffic. The controller then instructed the pilot to turn right to a southwesterly heading. The controller observed the airplane descending and a low altitude alert activated. The controller instructed the pilot to maintain 3,000 ft. The pilot read back the altitude; this was the last transmission from the pilot. The controller then instructed the pilot to fly a westerly heading and no further responses were received from the pilot. Track data revealed that the airplane continued in a right, descending turn until radar contact was lost. The outboard section of the right wing and the right flap separated in flight and the airplane impacted a farm field. Postaccident examination of the airframe, engine, and propeller did not reveal evidence of a pre-existing mechanical malfunction or anomaly that would have precluded normal operation. All fracture surfaces on the separated right wing section displayed fracture features that were consistent with overstress-induced separation. The weather conditions at the time, in addition to the successive heading changes given to the pilot, were conducive to the onset of spatial disorientation. Although one of the pilot’s toxicology specimens tested positive for gabapentin, a disqualifying medication that can cause dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, and sedation, the pilot’s passenger (his spouse) was prescribed the medication and intermingling and contamination of the samples were possible; therefore, it is unlikely that the pilot had taken the medication.
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 structural failure during approach (IFR initial approach)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (IFR initial approach) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Wing structure › Spar (on wing) › Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion › Spatial disorientation › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 870 hours in all
- Last flight review: January 21, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 86 hours in all
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,768 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 30, 2022; 21 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6 (piston); 2,768 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LAA Leesburg FL at 3:31 pm
- Destination: WDR Winder GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 31, 5,202 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from KAHN, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KAHN 261851Z 05011KT 10SM BKN013 OVC022 13/11 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP197 T01330106=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
22 documents, released by the NTSB on May 6, 2025. 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.
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA23FA209.