Cessna 172N accident near Covington, Georgia, August 2, 2001
On August 2, 2001 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N3467E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Covington, Georgia (Covington Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's improper monitoring of the dual student during a simulated engine out approach and her delayed decision to initiate a go-around resulting in the airplane colliding with trees at the departure end of the runway during the go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2001 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Covington, Georgia · Covington Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N3467E · no longer on the register · serial 17271558
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instructor and student stated that during a simulated engine out approach and landing, the approach was at a higher than normal glide path. Touch down was further down the runway than normal. The dual student stated it would have been possible to complete the landing roll in the grass, however, the instructor initiated a go-around. The dual student stated the stall warning horn activated during the climb and the airplane contacted trees at the departure end of the runway. The instructor stated they had no mechanical failures with the airplane. The engine was operated to full power after the accident with no evidence of failure or malfunction. The carburetor heat was found on after the accident.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 704 hours in all; 448 in this make and model; 195 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 502 as pilot in command; 219 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 16, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 195 hours in all; 187 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 120 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 23, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,203 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 27, 2001; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PDK Atlanta GA at 6:17 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,203 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PDK, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.