# Accident 20030613016839A: Piper PA31P, Augusta, GA, June 13, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 13, 2003, 13:01 local time
- Place: Augusta, GA
- Airport: Bush Field
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.4710° N, 81.9748° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Augusta, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4710&lon=-81.9748&mi=10
- Aircraft: N577FS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N577FS-2013-03-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31P (registry code 7103120, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TIGO-541SER (registry code 41539, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tigo-541ser) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA31P
- Reported engine: LYC TIGO541E1A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 8,000 total, 10 in this make and model, 28 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030613016839A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JUNE 16, 2003, AT APPROXIMATELY 1301 EDT, A PIPER PA-31-P, CRASHED INTO A SWAMP AND BURST INTO FLAMES SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM AUGUSTA REGIONAL BUSH FIELD AIRPORT, AUGUSTA, GEORGIA. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 WITH AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT PLAN FILED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND PASSENGER RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED RUNWAY 35 ENROUTE TO BELMONT, MISSISSIPPI. DURING CLIMB OUT, THE PILOT REPORTED AND ENGINE PROBLEM, AND THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER CLEARED THE FLIGHT TO LAND ON ANY RUNWAY. NO FURTHER RADIO TRANSMISSIONS WERE RECEIVED FROM THE PILOT. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT FLYING LOW, NORTH OF THE AIRPORT, AND ENGINE NOISES WERE DESCRIBED AS "ERRATIC" AND "SKIPPING". A WITNESS AT THE AIRPORT STATED THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO USE HALF OF THE 8,000 FOOT RUNWAY ON TAKEOFF ROLL, AND THE CLIMB OUT APPEARED VERY FLAT. THE WITNESS STATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOW OVER THE TREES, PITCHED UP, THE RIGHT WING DROPPED, AND CRASHED INTO TREES, AND EXPLODED.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

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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