20120630017259A

On June 30, 2012 this office was notified that aircraft N33CG crashed at 16:30 local time by the FAA roc. The aircraft involved was a Piper navajo PA-31P, N33CG (sn 31P-7300157). This aircraft crashed approximately one mile west of the Dalton airport (dnn). According to a witness, the aircraft was observed to be flying at less than 500 feet with the right engine inoperative just prior to impact. Another witness described an aircraft at 300 feet and descending with an engine at high RPM. There were also witnesses at Dalton airport that observed a normal departure from runway 32 with no apparent problems on takeoff. These witnesses were also consistent in reporting that after take off, they observed "smoke behind the trees" to the southwest minutes later. The first responders to the accident scene were members of the gordon county fire department. The pilot in command Mr. Donald l. holbrook was fatally injured during the crash along with the aircraft being destroyed by crash forces and post crash fire. Mr. Holbrook holds an FAA pilot certificate #3609274, multi and single engine land. The time in this model is 180 hours. According to FAA records Mr. Holbrook has approximately 1685 hours total time. This information was reported as of 05/16/2012. Mr. Holbrook was issued a third class medical certificate on 05/16/2012. The PIC had approximately 6 hours in the last 90 days.at the time of the accident the annual inspection was due by 07/01/2012 and was previously complied with on 06/18/2011 at a total time of 4445.6 hours. The left and right engines had 981.5 hours tbo at the time of the accident. The right propeller was installed in overhauled condition during the last annual. the weather was VMC and the last reported weather at Dalton (dnn) 1615 was 10 miles visibility, clear skies, temp 39 degrees c, dew point 15C, altimeter 29.87" hg. The field elevation of 709 feet adjusted to a density altitude of 3844 feet. at approximately 1630 local, N33CG a Piper PA-31P crashed in a wooded area approximately one mile from Dalton airport. The aircraft was partially consumed by post crash fire and heavily damaged. The aircraft came to rest up right, in a flat attitude, on a course of about 106 degrees. The forward section including the cock pit was consumed by fire. The engines were separated from the aircraft and consumed by fire. Flight control continuity was verified to the burned areas. Due to the condition of the engines and the post crash fire it was not possible to determine whether the engine was producing power at the time of the crash. the aircraft was destroyed. The data plate was verified and remains with the aircraft.