# NTSB ATL06FA030: Piper PA-28-180, N2169T, Peachtree City, GA, January 2, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: January 1, 2006, 20:07 local (Jan 2, 2006, 01:07 UTC) - Place: Peachtree City, GA - Coordinates: 33.354442, -84.569725 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3544&lon=-84.5697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Lycoming textron, Atlanta FSDO-11, New Piper - NTSB case key (mKey): 63072 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL06FA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63072/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06FA030 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude while performing an instrument approach in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees and terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr) - weather condition - fog - light condition - dark night - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - low ceiling - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot requested the localizer 10-approach to the Macon Downtown Airport, Macon, Georgia (MAC). The pilot was radar vectored to intercept the localizer, and cleared for the localizer 10-approach. Shortly thereafter, the pilot advised approach control that he had over flown the localizer. The approach control specialist issued vectors back to the localizer, and he was cleared for another localizer 10-approach. The pilot reported to approach control that he was having trouble staying on the localizer, and requested to go to the Middle Georgia Airport, Macon, Georgia (MCN). He was subsequently cleared for the ILS runway 5-approach to MCN. The MCN tower advised approach control that the pilot had panicked during his approach, and went missed approach. The pilot contacted the MCN tower, reported that he had lost the localizer, and requested if he could be taken around to do the approach again. He was issued radar vectors back to the ILS runway 5-approach, and about one-half mile from the approach, the pilot requested to come around for another approach after drifting off course. The pilot made two more attempts to land at MCN before being radar vectored to the Peachtree City Airport-Falcon (FFC) localizer 31-approach. During the approach into FFC, radar contact was lost with the airplane. The airplane had collided with trees about 1 mile from the approach end of runway 31. Postcrash examination of the aircraft structure, flight controls, systems, engine, and propeller showed no anomalies. The pilot received his instrument rating less than 6 months before the accident, and had accumulated 17.1 total hours of actual instrument flight time. He had 133 hours of simulated instrument flight hours. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 1, 2006, at 2007 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N2169T, registered to Haskell Aircraft Enterprises LLC and operated by a private-rated pilot, as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with trees during an approach into Falcon Field, Peachtree City, Georgia. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces, and the private pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from Craig Municipal Airport, Jacksonville, Florida, on January 1, 2006 at 1536. At 1708, the pilot checked in with Atlanta Approach Control, and requested the localizer 10-approach at the Macon Downtown Airport, Macon, Georgia (MAC). The pilot was radar vectored to intercept the localizer, and cleared for the localizer 10-approach at MAC. At 1745, the pilot contacted the Atlanta Approach Control, and advised that he had over flown the localizer. Atlanta Approach advised the pilot that he was about a mile north of the localizer, and issued vectors back to the localizer 10-approach. The pilot was cleared for the localizer 10-approach, and established on the localizer. Atlanta Approach Control advised the pilot he could cancel IFR and change to advisory frequency. At 1756, the pilot advised Atlanta Approach Control that he was having trouble staying on the localizer and requested to go to the Middle Georgia Airport, Macon, Georgia (MCN). Atlanta Approach Control issued vectors for MCN, and advised the pilot to expect the ILS runway 5-approach. At 1819, Atlanta Approach Control cleared the pilot for the ILS runway 5-approach to MCN. The MCN tower advised Atlanta Approach Control that the pilot had panicked and went missed approach. Atlanta Approach Control contacted the pilot, and asked if he was all right. The pilot responded "that he was a little worn out from flying, and would try to get it under control". At 1830, the pilot contacted the MCN tower, reported that he had lost the localizer, and had flown through it. The pilot requested if he could be taken around to do the approach again. He was issued radar vectors back to the ILS runway 5-approach. At 1844, about one half mile from the approach the pilot requested to come around for another approach after drifting off course. At 1859, Atlanta Approach Control cleared the pilot for the ILS runway 5-approach, and was given instructions to keep him from drifting off course. At 1903, the MCN tower had the airplane insight over the runway, and reported that he was climbing back out. The pilot advised Atlanta Approach that he needed to try it again because he had totally missed it. The pilot was issued radar vectors again for the ILS runway 5-approach. At 1922, the pilot apologized for turning off of the localizer course, and Atlanta Approach issued a climb to 2,000 feet. Atlanta Approach requested the fuel status of the airplane. The pilot replied that the right tank was getting low, and left tank was half full. Atlanta Approach Control advised the pilot that he could go to another airport where the weather was better. The pilot acknowledged, and was radar vectored to the Peachtree City Airport-Falcon Field (FFC) localizer 31-approach. At 2004, Atlanta Approach cleared the pilot for the approach, one-mile from the final approach fix, and the pilot acknowledged. At 2007, the controller lost radar and radio contact with the flight, and a search was initiated to locate the airplane. At 2105, the airplane was located one mile southeast of the approach end of the runway 31. PERSONNEL INFORMATION Review of the pilot's FAA records revealed, that he was issued a private pilot certificate on March 3, 2003, for airplane single- engine land. The pilot was issued an instrument rating on June 10, 2005. Review of the pilot's logbook revealed, he had a total flight time of 437.8 flight hours. The pilot logged 17.1 flight hours of actual instrument flight time, and 133 flight hours of simulated instrument time. The private pilot held a third class medical certificate dated June 25, 2004, and was valid when wearing corrective lenses. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The accident airplane was a 1971 Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee (serial number 28-7205019). It was a four-place; low-wing aircraft of predominantly aluminum construction with a fixed tricycle landing gear configuration. A 180-horsepower Lycoming O-360-A4A engine (serial number L-15971-36A) powered the airplane. Review of aircraft maintenance logbooks indicated that the last recorded altimeter, static, and transponder system checks were completed on August 23, 2005. The last annual inspection was conducted on March 10, 2005. The tachometer time at the annual inspection was 2008.55 hours. At the time of the accident the tachometer indicated 2071.88 hours. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION Selected surface weather observations for the destination and accident area, in part, follow. No observations were available for Macon Downtown Airport (MAC). Peachtree City Airport/Falcon Field (KFFC), Atlanta, Georgia: field elevation 808 feet msl, located approximately 331 degrees at 1 nautical mile from the accident location, Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS), alternate airport: Time-1953; wind-variable at 3 knots; visibility-4 miles; present weather-mist; sky condition-overcast 800 feet; temperature-13 degrees Celsius; dew point-13 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting-30.00 inches hg; remarks-rain ended 1923 ceiling 500 feet variable 1,100 feet Middle Georgia Regional Airport (KMCN), Macon, Georgia: field elevation 354 feet msl, augmented ASOS, alternate airport Time-1753; wind-calm; visibility-2 miles; present weather-mist; sky condition-overcast 600 feet; temperature-14 degrees Celsius; dew point-13 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting-30.02 inches hg; remarks-rain ended 1735 ceiling 200 feet variable 700 feet WRECKAGE EXAMINATION The main wreckage was located at 33.21:16N, 084.34:11W, one mile from the approach end of runway 31 in a heavily wooded area. Examination of the crash site revealed that the airplane collided with trees and the ground. The crash debris line was 300 feet in length on a heading of 330-degrees magnetic. The cockpit section of the airplane was crushed. The flight, and communication instruments were destroyed. The throttle position was aft and bent. The mixture control was full rich, and the ignition switch was in the both position. The fuel selector was on the left tank, and the fuel primer was in the locked position. The flap handle was down, indicating flaps up. The fuselage was split vertically at the forward edge of the baggage area. The right side of the fuselage, aft of the baggage area was crushed inward. The entry door at the right side of the fuselage was detached and damaged. Flight control continuity was established to all flight controls in the cockpit. The Gascolator was disassembled and one ounce of fuel was observed in the unit. The nose wheel assembly was still attached to the engine mounts. All components of the left wing were located at the crash site. The left wing separated from fuselage at the wing root and separated into two pieces. The aileron was attached to the outboard 4-foot section of wing, with the aileron weight attached. The inboard portion of wing had the flap attached. The fuel tank bladder was separated, and located in the debris field. The left flap mechanism indicated that the flaps were in the up position. The aileron cables were attached to the bellcrank, and separated at the wing root. The left main landing gear was separated from the wing, and located in the debris field. All components of the right wing assembly were located at the crash site. The right wing was fragmented into several pieces throughout the wreckage debris field. The inboard section of flap was attached to the outboard wing section. The detached outboar ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2169T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2169T-2009-10-20), registration cancelled 2009-10-20, S/N 28-7205019, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7205019 - Airframe hours: 2071.88 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: George Owens Haskell III - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2005, 2,008.55 hours before - Departed: CRG, JACKSONVILLE, FL - Destination: MAC, MACON, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: FFC, Peachtree City-Falcon Field, runway 31, 5,220 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2005; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 437 total, 299 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 300° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: ATL, 10 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20060102001009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060102001009A), Jan 2, 2006: Piper PA28180, Senoia, GA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) On January 1, 2006 at 2007 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28, N2169T, registered to haskell aircraft enterprises LLC and operated by a private pilot,… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.