# NTSB ATL80FA091: Piper PA-44, N3011D, Helen, GA, April 8, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 8, 1980
- Place: Helen, GA · HELEN, GA
- Location: 34.7051° N, 83.7282° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Helen, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7051&lon=-83.7282&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 30, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 130602
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL80FA091
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL80FA091

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2387   80/4/8  NR.HELEN,GA           PIPER PA-44         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 32, 3100
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N3011D              PX-  3  0  0  OTHER                     TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ALBANY,GA                  UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           POWERPLANT - LUBRICATING SYSTEM: SEALS AND GASKETS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LOOSE,PART/FITTING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LEAK/LEAKAGE
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - STOLEN OR UNAUTH=
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFING RECEIVED-METHOD UNKNOWN
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      RAIN, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- OIL FND ON L ENG,ROCKER BOX CVR BOLTS & PROP GOV NUTS LOOSE.ACFT RPRTD STOLEN.RECOVERY DATE-9/8/80
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3011D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3011D-2013-06-12), registration cancelled 2013-06-12, S/N 44-7995141, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-44
- Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19800408067789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800408067789A), Apr 8, 1980: Piper PA44180, Helen, GA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Airplane struck trees in remote area no mechanical defects. Was over gross wt, thunderstrm area illegal drug flight

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.

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