# Accident 19981028030749A: Piper PA32R300, Atlanta, GA, October 28, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 28, 1998, 18:25 local time
- Place: Atlanta, GA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: DKBA
- Location: 34.0295° N, 84.3506° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0295&lon=-84.3506&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8554C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8554C-2013-11-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-300 (registry code 7103213, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32R300
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 1,500 total, 125 in this make and model, 125 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL99FA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99FA011) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981028030749A

## Narrative

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

ACFT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY DUE TO ENGINE PROBLEMS AND ATTEMPTED TO REACH TEH ARPT, THE ACFT STRUCK SEVERAL CARS ON HIGHWAY BEFORE CRASHING INTO A VAN AND BURSTING INTO FLAMES.(-23)WHILE OPERATING ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN BETWEEN BESSIMER, AL AND GAINSVILLE, GA, PILOT EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS AND EXTREME AIRFRAME VIBRATION. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON GEORGIA HIGHWAY 400. EMERGENCY LANDING RESULTED IN COLLISION WITH TWO AUTOMOBILES TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND. POST CRASH FIRE ENSUED. ONE AUTOMOBILE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE WITH NO APPARENT INJURIES TO THE SOLE OCCUPANT. THE OTHER AUTOMOBILE WAS DESTROYED WITH FATAL INJURIES TO THE SOLE OCCUPANT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED WITH MINOR INJURIES TO THE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 5 CYLINDER ROD ASSSEMBLY RESULTING IN INSUFFICIENT POWER TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT.

## 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 ATL99FA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99FA011), Oct 28, 1998: Piper PA-32R-300 (N8554C), Roswell, GA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to the failure of the number five connecting rod assembly as a result of fatigue cracks that were initiated in areas of galling. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain…

## Other reports on N8554C (1)

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

- [Incident 19970206005539I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970206005539I), Feb 6, 1997: Piper PA32R300 (N8554C), Birmingham, AL, Minor damage. Narrative: pilot was attempting to land at bessmer, AL (eky)when the nose gear did not extend. So company ordered him to land in Birmingham (bhm) where their…

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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