# Accident 20230124014249A: Piper PA-28-140, Buford, GA, January 24, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 24, 2023, 16:15 local time
- Place: Buford, GA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.0500° N, 84.0300° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0500&lon=-84.0300&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7470R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7470R-2025-03-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (registry code 42120, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-e2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-320-E2A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot, student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA117) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230124014249A

## Narrative

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

DURING A LOCAL VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) INSTRUCTION FLIGHT AIRCRAFT PA-28-140, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ CALLED THE LOCAL CONTROLLER AT KLZU FOR GUIDANCE FOR APPROACH TO RUNWAY 7. SHORTLY AFTER AIRCRAFT N7470R CALLED THE LOCAL CONTROLLER FOR INBOUND CLEARANCE FOR LANDING ON RUNWAY 7 AT KLZU, THE LOCAL CONTROLLER ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE PILOT FOR A POSITION REPORT, AT WHICH TIME THE LOCAL CONTROLLER WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT THE PILOT. A FEW MINUTES LATER, A GWINNETT COUNTY, GEORGIA POLICE HELICOPTER PILOT ADVISED LOCAL CONTROL THAT THERE WAS AN AIRCRAFT THAT HAD LANDED ON INTERSTATE 985 IN BUFORD, GEORGIA.

## 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 ERA23LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA117), Jan 24, 2023: Piper PA-28-140 (N7470R), Buford, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Water contamination in the fuel system that was not observed during the preflight inspection, resulting in a total loss of engine power and forced landing.

## Other reports on N7470R (1)

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

- [Incident 20220521021429I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220521021429I), May 21, 2022: Piper PA-28-140 (N7470R), Winder, GA, Minor damage. Student pilot landed slightly to the right or the center line on runway 31. The aircraft continued to the right pilot applied the hand brake reported to…

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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