Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 529 was a scheduled flight operating under the Delta Connection brand using an Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia, a turboprop aircraft. During its flight, the aircraft experienced a failure in its left engine, prompting the crew to divert to West Georgia Regional Airport. The pilots attempted to manage the situation as they descended towards the airport, but the situation worsened. Despite their efforts and the use of emergency procedures, the aircraft crashed in a wooded area in Carroll County, Georgia, just short of the airport.

The crew consisted of a captain, a first officer, and a flight attendant, all of whom were trained for emergency scenarios. The crash resulted in a significant loss of life, with nine passengers perishing in the incident and the remaining 20 sustaining various injuries. Investigations into the crash revealed factors such as mechanical failure and potentially inadequate crew responses, leading to heightened scrutiny on safety regulations regarding regional air travel.

In the aftermath, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted a thorough investigation, which highlighted the need for improvements in aircraft inspections and maintenance protocols. The findings influenced changes in training programs for crew members about handling engine failures and other critical flight situations, fostering a more rigorous safety culture within the aviation industry.