Cessna 170B accident near Hartwell, Georgia, July 10, 2026
On July 10, 2026 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1953 Cessna 170B, registered N1838C, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Hartwell, Georgia (Mustang Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to compensate for the gusty and variable wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with trees during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2026 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hartwell, Georgia · Mustang Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B, built 1953 · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1838C · registry record · serial 25982
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot was attempting to take off from a grass runway in variable wind and light rain. During the takeoff, when the airplane was about 30 ft above the ground, the airplane rolled right toward trees on the side of the runway. The pilot was able to roll the airplane’s wings level; however, he was unable to avoid colliding with trees, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A witness recorded video of the takeoff that captured both the airplane and a windsock. Review of the video revealed that the wind had shifted to a right crosswind during the airplane’s initial climb, immediately before the airplane rolled nearly 45 degrees, consistent with the pilot’s description of the airplane rolling to the right. The wind then shifted suddenly to a left quartering headwind as the airplane began to level; however, the airplane continued toward the trees off the right side of the runway.
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 in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,455 hours in all; 17.8 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 2.8 in the last 30 days; 15,932 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 27, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,632 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2026
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145-A-7 (piston); 2,632 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 52A Madison GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13/3, 2,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 4:04 pm from KAND, 12 miles away
Weather report (METAR): SPECI KAND 102004Z AUTO 19015KT 10SM SCT046 32/22 A3001 RMK AO2 WSHFT 1944 LTG DSNT ALQDS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 ERA26LA272.