20030226003769A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-32-300 · Sylvania, GA · February 26, 2003

Date: February 26, 2003 · 12:15 local
Place: Sylvania, GA
Phase of flight: Scud Running
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N54406
NTSB investigation: NTSBATL03FA049
Reported as: Piper PA32300
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1

N54406Registration cancelled Jan 24, 2018 · Piper PA-32-300S/N 32-7440050 · Built 1973 Airframe modelPiper PA-32-300 Engine modelLycoming TI0-540 seriesTurbo-prop

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Witnesses stated that aircraft struck a tv antenna tower during while flying very low in IFR wx conditions. Aircraft crashed and burned about 1/4 mile from tower in a small field adjacent to a house on halcyondale road in Sylvania, GA. On scene investigation revealed a completely demolished (by fire) Piper aircraft corporation, pa 32-300. The pilot did not survive the crash. It is thought that the aircraft flew through antenna guy wires at approximately 400-425 ft. AGL and it is not known at this time why the pilot was operating at this low altitude. Pilot hours and last regulatory check ride are unknown.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) WITNESSES STATED THAT AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TV ANTENNA TOWER DURING WHILE FLYING VERY LOW IN IFR WX CONDITIONS. AIRCRAFT CRASHED AND BURNED ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM TOWER IN A SMALL FIELD ADJACENT TO A HOUSE ON HALCYONDALE ROAD IN SYLVANIA, GA. ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED A COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED (BY FIRE) PIPER AIRCRAFT CORPORATION, PA 32-300. THE PILOT DID NOT SURVIVE THE CRASH. IT IS THOUGHT THAT THE AIRCRAFT FLEW THROUGH ANTENNA GUY WIRES AT APPROXIMATELY 400-425 FT. AGL AND IT IS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME WHY THE PILOT WAS OPERATING AT THIS LOW ALTITUDE. PILOT HOURS AND LAST REGULATORY CHECK RIDE ARE UNKNOWN.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ATL03FA049Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSylvania, GAThe pilot's decision to conduct VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance. Related factors were the guy wire and the fog.Feb 26, 2003 · Destroyed