Herbert Smart Downtown Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Macon, Georgia 31201
Friday, August 8, 1997 15:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

This was a training flight for crosswind takeoffs and landings. On the last landing, the airplane was approaching high and fast. The pilot believed there was insufficient remaining runway to land and initiated a go-around. While attempting the go-around, the airplane stalled and, according to a witness, collided with power lines and went straight into the ground. According to the pilot, the speed of the airplane was 50 to 55 knots. According to the pilot's operating handbook for the Cessna 152, the stall speed in the landing configuration is 35 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of control of the airplane due to the pilot's improperly planned approach and failure to maintain adequate airspeed.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/8/1997
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1520
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MACON
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31201
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HERBERT SMART DOWNTOWN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MAC
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 330
Airport Elevation 463
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1256 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID MAC
Elevation of weather observation facility 463
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 16
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2600
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 811
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 11 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1859
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:28PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N757WL
NTSB Number ATL97LA119
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 152
Aircraft Serial Number 15280061
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 53
Airframe Hours 6301
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NJB ENTERPRISES, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4717 BRAE BURN LANE
Aircraft Owner City MACON
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 31210
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SOUTHEASTERN SCHOOL OF AERO.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address HERBERT SMART AIRPORT
Operator City MACON
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 31201
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MAC
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 3600
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --