# Accident 20021231035759A: Piper PA28140, Mableton, GA, December 31, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 31, 2002, 17:35 local time
- Place: Mableton, GA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8114° N, 84.6069° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8114&lon=-84.6069&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5118G, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5118G-2003-04-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28140
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 458 total, 136 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL03FA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03FA030) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021231035759A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON DECEMBER 31, 2002, MR. JOHN ANDREW THEUNE (CERT NO 131409850) WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) OF A PIPER PA-28-180 (N5118G) AIRPLANE ON AN IFR FLIGHT FROM DANVILLE, VIRGINIA (DAN) TO FULTON COUNTY, GEORGIA (FTY). THERE WAS ONE PASSENGER ON BOARD -- A MALE JUVENILE. AT 2230:03 (UNIVERSAL TIME), N5118G INFORMED ATLANTA APPROACH CONTROL (SATF) THAT THE FLIGHT WAS "VERY LOW ON FUEL." AT THIS TIME, N5118G WAS APPROXIMATELY 12 NAUTICAL MILES (NM) NORTH OF FTY AT 4,100 FT. DESCENDING TO 3,000 FT. SATF INSTRUCTED N5118G TO FLY A HEADING OF 140 DEGREES AND MAINTAIN 3,000 FT. N5118G DID NOT DECLARE AN EMERGENCY SO SATF DECLARED AN EMERGENCY FOR THE FLIGHT. AT 2231:23, N5118G REPORTED BEING OUT OF FUEL BUT HAVING GOOD VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. SATF INSTRUCTED N5118G TO MANEUVER AS NECESSARY AND PROVIDED THE FLIGHT WITH THE LOCATION OF FTY RELATIVE TO THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE'S POSITION. AT 2231:58, THE POSITION OF N5118G WAS ABOUT 6.3-NM NORTH/NORTHWEST (303-DEGREES) OF FTY. AT 2233:23, N5118G DISAPPEARED FROM SATF RADAR AND CRASHED IN THE BACKYARD OF A PRIVATE RESIDENCE IN MABLETON, GEORGIA--APPROXIMATELY 5.5-NM NORTH/NORTHWEST OF FTY. THE AIRPLANE WAS DEMOLISHED IN THE CRASH, ANDBOTH OCCUPANTS WERE SEVERELY INJURED. NO PERSONS ON THE GROUND WERE INJURED; GROUND PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO BROKEN TREE BRANCHES AND SPOILED LANDSCAPING.

## 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 ATL03FA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03FA030), Dec 31, 2002: Piper PA-28-180 (N5118G), Austell, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight and in-flight planning/decision that resulted in fuel exhaustion, and subsequent loss of engine power.

## Other reports on N5118G (1)

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

- [Accident 19730121001579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730121001579A), Jan 21, 1973: Piper PA28180 (N5118G), No.Myrtle Bch, SC, Substantial damage. Didnt refuel at enroute stop. Hit road bank.

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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