# Accident 20030226003769A: Piper PA32300, Sylvania, GA, February 26, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 26, 2003, 12:15 local time
- Place: Sylvania, GA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.7164° N, 81.6297° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7164&lon=-81.6297&mi=10
- Aircraft: N54406, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54406-2018-01-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-300 (registry code 7103212, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32300
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL03FA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03FA049) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030226003769A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 ATL03FA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03FA049), Feb 26, 2003: Piper PA-32-300 (N54406), Sylvania, GA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The 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.

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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