Cessna C-170A accident near Trenton, Georgia, June 10, 2007
On June 10, 2007 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna C-170A, registered N1206D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Trenton, Georgia (Prater'S Landing 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 failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll which resulted in an impact with trees. Factors in the accident were the uneven narrow runway, and a wind gust.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 10, 2007 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Trenton, Georgia · Prater'S Landing · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-170A
- Registration
- N1206D · registry record · serial 19760
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, while landing to the southeast, the C-170A left main landing gear "impacted [a] slight knoll" on the "narrow" turf runway, which caused the "plane to begin [a] right turn." The pilot then applied the left brake, but a "gust" from the left "push[ed the] aircraft right." More braking was applied, "with little or no effect." The airplane "ran off" the right side of the runway, and continued down an embankment toward trees bounding the airport. The pilot applied "both brakes with little effect." The pilot "let off [the] left brake just before impact" in order to steer the fuselage between two trees and minimize the damage and injury potential. The accident airport was the pilot's home field, and was equipped with one windsock. The pilot reported that the wind was "down the runway," and that the "very very dry" conditions of the turf significantly reduced braking effectiveness. The nearest recorded aviation weather, from an airport located approximately 22 miles to the northeast of the accident airport, reported winds of 6 knots from 320 degrees. The pilot reported a total of 2,290 hours of flight experience, 1,290 hours of which were in make and model.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,290 hours in all; 1,290 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 2,170 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2007; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APT Jasper TN at 8:15 pm
- Destination: NONE Trenton GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 1,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from CHA, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.