# NTSB ATL83LA357: Piper PA-28R-200, N4992S, St. Simons Isl., GA, September 4, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 3, 1983, 21:26 local (Sep 4, 1983, 01:26 UTC)
- Place: St. Simons Isl., GA
- Coordinates: 31.20919, -81.37059 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2092&lon=-81.3706&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6195
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83LA357
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6195/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83LA357

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - displaced threshold (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,visual apch slope ind(vasi) - unavailable (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

DURING ARRIVAL, THE PLT BEGAN AN APCH TO RWY 04 ON A DARK NIGHT. THE APCH TO THE RWY WAS OVER A BAY INLET & RIVER CONFLUENCE. THE PLT THOUGHT THAT THE ACFT WAS HIGH WHEN IT WAS ON FINAL APPROACH. HOWEVER IT COLLIDED WITH TREES, IMPACTED ON A ROAD SHORT OF THE RWY, THEN SLID THRU A PERIMETER FENCE. A TOXICOLOGICAL CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD INDICATED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.18%. THE RWY HAS A 1000 FT DISPLACED THRESHOLD DUE TO OBSTACLES. NO VASI LIGHTS WERE INSTALLED, BUT THE MEDIUM INTENSITY RWY LIGHTS & RWY END INDENTIFICATION LIGHTS WERE OPERATING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4992S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4992S-1989-07-24), registration cancelled 1989-07-24, S/N 28R35717 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-35717
- Airframe hours: 2222
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Chancy A. H.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 2, 1983
- Departed: 55J, FERNANDINO BCH.
- Airport: SSI, Malcolm-Mckinnon, runway 4, 5,406 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 430 total, 102 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SSI

## 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 19830903067929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830903067929A), Sep 3, 1983: Piper PA28R200, St Simons Islan, FL, Substantial damage. Clipped tree tops on final approach and crash landed short of the runway then slid through airport fence.

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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