Cessna 172 accident near Atlanta, Georgia, January 28, 2026
On January 28, 2026 at about 6:40 pm local time, a 2021 Cessna 172, registered N407MD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Atlanta, Georgia (Newnan Coweta 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 improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 28, 2026 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Newnan Coweta County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 S, built 2021 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N407MD · registry record · serial 172S12764
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo student pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern after performing maneuvers in the local area. After two successful stop-and-go landings, the pilot approached the runway for a third landing, during which the airplane touched down hard, so the pilot aborted the landing. During the final landing approach, the airplane touched down hard again and bounced, after which the pilot lost control of the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and rudder during the accident sequence. 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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 22 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,989 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 27, 2025; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 6,293 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 1:35 pm from KCCO
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCCO 281835Z AUTO 31008KT 290V350 10SM CLR 07/M09 A3027 RMK AO2 T00731094=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 6 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Frontal View of the Airplane on the Ramp Note the damaged lower Propeller Blade
Photograph 2 – View of the Bottom Fuselage Showing Structural Buckling Damage near Fuselage Station 17
Photograph 3 – View of the Bottom Fuselage Showing Structural Buckling Damage Adjacent to Lower Nose Gear Fitting, Near Fuselage Station 0
Photograph 4 – View of the Cockpit Showing Buckling of Floor on Pilot and Co-Pilot Locations
Photograph 5 – Close-Up View Showing Buckling Damage to Pilot’s Side Floor
Photograph 6 - Close-Up View Showing Buckling Damage to Co-Pilot’s Side FloorThe 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
7 documents, released by the NTSB on May 21, 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 | NTSB Record of Conversation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Fuselage Stations | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Excerpts from Illustrated Parts Catalog | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 7 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | 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 N407MD 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.