Cessna 172P accident near Flemington, Georgia, January 9, 2026
On January 9, 2026 at about 8:39 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N96493, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Flemington, Georgia (Wright Aaf (Fort Stewart)/Midc 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 inadvertent manipulation of the mixture control, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during initial climb and a subsequent forced lading.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 9, 2026 · about 8:39 pm local time
- Place
- Flemington, Georgia · Wright Aaf (Fort Stewart)/Midc · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N96493 · registry record · serial 17276080
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, during the initial climb, the pilot stated that he perceived that the airplane’s engine noise was louder than normal. After ensuring that the pilot and passenger side windows were closed and locked, he decided that he would decrease the engine throttle slightly to diagnose the sound. When the pilot reached for the throttle, he inadvertently grabbed the mixture control, and after pulling it back, the engine lost power completely. The pilot attempted to restart the engine twice, but both attempts were unsuccessful. As the airplane was approaching a tree line, and only at an altitude of about 300 ft above the ground, the pilot decided to turn back to a field that was near the end of the runway. The pilot subsequently landed the airplane off-airport, and during the landing roll the nose landing gear encountered a rut. The airplane subsequently nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane’s rudder and wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane 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
- Fuel related during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › Mixture control › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,310 hours in all; 203 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 1,487 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 12, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 22, 2025; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15L, 5,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from LHW
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLHW 091955Z AUTO 13008KT 10SM SCT042 28/17 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP206 T02750170 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 14, 2026. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photo | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N96493 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.