# Accident 19970725019649A: Piper PA32R301T, Gainesville, GA, July 25, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 25, 1997, 18:44 local time
- Place: Gainesville, GA
- Airport: Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2906° N, 83.8293° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2906&lon=-83.8293&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8473P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8473P-1998-03-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-301T (registry code 7103220, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301t) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32R301T
- Reported engine: LYC TIO540S1AD
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 15,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA97FA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97FA219) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970725019649A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED RUNWAY AND MADE LEFT TURN, LOST ENGINE POWER AND CRASHED INTO SHED IN INDUSTRIAL PARK. (.4)WITNESSES SAID THEY OBSERVED TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS BEING PERFORMED. PILOT(S) OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE (N8473P), TURNED OFF RUNWAY 22 AFTER LANDING & TAXIED BACK TO THE APPROACH END TO TAKE OFF AGAIN. AS N8473P WAS TAKING OFF, THE PILOT OF AN ARRIVING AIRPLANE ASK ABOUT N8473P'S LOCATION. PILOT(S) OF N8473P REPLIED THAT THEY WERE ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL. DURING INITIAL CLIMB AFTER LIFT-OFF, THEY TRANSMITTED 'GIVE US SOME ROOM TO TURN THIS THING AROUND.'  N8473P WAS OBSERVED TO CLIMB TO ABOUT 100 FT AGL, BANK SHARPLY LEFT, THEN ROLL TO A WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE. WITNESSES THEN LOST SIGHT N8473P DUE TO OBSTRUCTIONS. SMOKE WAS OBSERVED, & 911 WAS CALLED TO REPORT THE ACCIDENT. WITNESSES SAID THE LANDING GEAR WAS RETRACTED WHEN N8473P BEGAN BANKING LEFT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED N8473P FIRST CONTACTED THE TOPS OF TWO 25 FEET-TALL TREES, THEN IT COLLIDED WITH A WALKWAY CANOPY. FIRE DESTROYED MOST OF THE RIGHT WING, THE COCKPIT & CABIN, & SLIGHT FIRE DAMAGE WAS NOTED TO THE                                                                                                                         LEFT WING. FIRE DAMAGE & BROWNING OF GRASS WERE NOTED FORWARD OF THE RIGHT WING.  NO CHEMICAL OR FIRE DAMAGE WAS NOTED TO PLANTS FOWARD & BENEATH THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT WITH THE LEFT WING INBOARD FUEL TANK, & NO HYDRAULIC RUPTURE TO THE LEFT WING FUEL TANKS WERE NOTED.  AN EXAM OF THE ENGINE, FLIGHT CONTROLS, & AIRFRAM REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.  THE FUEL SELECTOR COMPENENTS HAD IMPACT DAMAGE, & THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONED ABOUT 15 DEG TO THE RIGHT OF THE 'LEFT' FUEL TANK POSITION.                                                                     (-23) ON JULY 25, 1997 AROUND 1844 EST N8473P TOOK OFF FROM (GVL) GAINSVILLE GA. PILOT ON BOARD RADIOED BACK TO FBO THAT HE WAS RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT ON CLIMBOUT ABOUT 100 FT FROM GROUND. NIKA IN APPROACH PATTERN RECEIVED RADIO CONTACT FROM PILOT IN N8473P REQUESTING NOT TO CROWD THE PATTERN DUE TO AN IMMEDIATE RETURN TO AIRPORT, NO REASON GIVEN. N8473P MADE A TIGHT LEFT BANK IN AN ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO AIRPORT, CLIPPED (2) 25 FT TREES NEAR AN INDUSTRAL PARK BEFORE CRASHING INTO THE WALKWAY COVERING AT 1248 PALMOUR DRIVE, GAINSVILLE GA 30501. 2 FATALITIES ON IMPACT. POST FIRE COMPLETELY DEST ROYED AIRCRAFT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA97FA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97FA219), Jul 25, 1997: Piper PA-32R-301T (N8473P), Gainesville, GA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). Factors relating to the accident were: the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing, and obstructions (trees and building) that were encountered…

## Other reports on N8473P (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19830425030889I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830425030889I), Apr 25, 1983: Piper PA32R301T (N8473P), Carlsbad, CA, Minor damage. Total electrical failure occurred. Nose gear collapsed on rollout. Found alternator belt broken.
- [Incident 19821029068649I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821029068649I), Oct 29, 1982: Piper PA32R301T (N8473P), Torrance, CA, Minor damage. Wing tip struck the spinner of a parked aircraft while taxiing to park.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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