Perry Middle Georgia Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Perry, Georgia 31088
Thursday, September 18, 2003 17:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot stated that during climb out, he heard a strange noise coming from the engine compartment. The certified flight instructor (CFI) took control of the airplane, and the student pilot stated that the airplane entered a right bank and the stall warning horn briefly sounded. A witness stated that after takeoff, the airplane did not seem to gain altitude or airspeed. The witness stated that the airplane was then observed descending in a right bank. The airplane collided with the ground and came to rest in a field approximately 1/4 mile southeast of the departure end of runway 36. Examination of the wreckage site the airplane came to rest upright with both wings attached to the fuselage. Both wings were crushed aft and both wingtips were separated from both wings. Buckling was observed over the top portion of the wing skin on both wings. The empennage was separated from the fuselage aft of the rear passenger seats. The engine compartment was displaced up and aft into the cockpit area. A review of information on file with the FAA Aircraft Division, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, revealed the airplane was granted a Supplemental Type Certificate on December 12, 1984, authorizing the use of unleaded automotive fuel. Examination of the fuel system revealed automotive fuel that was brown in color and contained debris and water. Water was observed in both fuel tanks and in the fuel strainer. The carburetor bowl, fuel inlet chamber, and fuel screen were stained and contained dirt and debris. During the post -accident examination of the engine and airframe, no mechanical anomalies were identified. The CFI maintained a 55 gallon plastic refueling tank at the airport where the airplane was parked. Examination of the refueling tank revealed approximately one-fourth of an inch of sediment at the bottom of the tank. The fuel was brown in color and contained water and debris that was brown in color. The fuel filter on the tank was dark in color and contained sediment, and debris was observed around the seal of the fuel tank.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane, and also causal was his failure to detect water-contaminated fuel which resulted in a loss of engine power and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an stall.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/18/2003
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1750
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Perry
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31088
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 322909N
Event Location Longitude 0834405W
Event Location Airport Perry Middle Georgia Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 68GA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport 30
Airport Elevation 354
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1753 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 170
Weather Observation Facility ID MCN
Elevation of weather observation facility 354
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.84
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17251
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Sep 19 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1815
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 24 2005 9:13AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Atlanta FSDO-11

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N13375
NTSB Number ATL03FA142
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17262711
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2201
Airframe Hours 2218.1
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Norman E. Lasater
Aircraft Owner Street Address 98 Franklin Road SW
Aircraft Owner City Eatonton
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 31024
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 68GA
Departure City Perry
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1745
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 Emergency landing after takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record --
User who most recently changed record --
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 2800
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --