Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident were the gusty winds.
NTSB analysis
The flight was taking off on a personal cross country flight when a gust of wind caught the airplane, forcing the nose up. The pilot pushed the nose down and the airplane impacted the ground along side the runway, causing substantial damage. The pilot reported winds were 10 knots gusting to 30 knots. A weather reporting station 45 miles away reported that the winds were from 270 degrees magnetic at 10 knots gusting to 21 knots about the time of the accident.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CHI08LA137 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 18, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Wrightsville, Georgia
- Nearest airport
- The Farm Airport (01GE)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA-28R-180
- N-number
- N4553J
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.