# Accident 20031004034871A: Piper PA28R180, Pell City, AL, October 4, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 4, 2003, 17:25 local time
- Place: Pell City, AL
- Airport: St Clair County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Collision: Midair collision, first aircraft
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.5647° N, 86.2500° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5647&lon=-86.2500&mi=10
- Aircraft: N70SR, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70SR) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-180 (registry code 7102809, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R180
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 600 total, 45 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL04LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA005) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031004034871A

## Narrative

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

(-23) MR. ETHEREDGE WAS FLYING N70SR IN A NORMAL LANDING TRAFFIC PATTERN. HE MADE RADIO POSITION CALLS ON DOWNWIND, BASE AND FINAL APPROACH LEGS OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. N70SR WAS ESTABLISHED ON FINAL APPROACH AT AN AIRSPEED OF 85 MPH. AT AN ALTITUDE BETWEEN 100 FEET AND 400 FEET AGL A COLLISION OCCURRED BETWEEN N70SR AND N71723. N70SR REMAINED UNDER CONTROL OF THE PILOT AND LANDED ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST WITH THE LEFT WHEEL IN THE GRASS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT TIRE WAS FLAT. MR. JAMES WAS FLYING N71723 IN A CLOSED LEFT TRAFFIC PATTERN. WHILE TURNING FINAL APPROACH, USING A 30 TO 40 DEGREE BANK, FROM A CLOSE IN LEFT BASE THE RIGHT WING OF N71723 IMPACTED N70SR. THE IMPACT OCCURRED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STABILATOR, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE AND THE TIRE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR. N71723 LANDED IN THE GRASS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. TOWARD THE END OF THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE HIT A POTHOLE AND NOSED OVER ONTO THE PROPELLER AND ENGINE COWL. N71723 DOES NOT HAVE A COMMUNICATIONS RADIO INSTALLED.

## 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 ATL04LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA005), Oct 4, 2003: Piper PA-28R-180 (N70SR), Pell City, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to follow VFR Approach procedures and to maintain visual lookout.

## Other reports on N70SR (1)

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

- [Accident 20061007023069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061007023069A), Oct 7, 2006: Piper PA28R180 (N70SR), Alabaster, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) This was a local training flight. On the initial takeoff the pilot stated that he had a gear intransit light illuminated after placing the gear handle in…

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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