# NTSB ATL84FA111: Piper PA-32RT-301T, N8427A, Goodway, AL, March 3, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 3, 1984, 10:07 local (16:07 UTC)
- Place: Goodway, AL
- Location: 31.3368° N, 87.4258° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Goodway, AL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3368&lon=-87.4258&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6260
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84FA111
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6260/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84FA111

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight briefing service - inadequate, atc personnel(fss) (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds
  - weather condition - icing conditions
  - weather condition - turbulence in clouds
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - wing - separation
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight control,stabilator - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

PLT RECEIVED TWO WEATHER BRIEFINGS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. HE WAS TOLD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT BUT THE FSS BRIEFER STATED 'IF YOU GO NOW, IT'LL BE FINE.' THE PLT DEPARTED ON THE VFR FLT TO HICKORY, NC, AND DID NOT FILE A FLT PLAN. RADAR INFO OBTAINED DURING THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT N8427A WAS CRUISING AT 11,500 FT WHEN THE ACFT BEGAN A SERIES OF OSCILLATIONS THAT LED TO THE ACFT DESCENDING AT A RATE OF 15,000 FPM. WITNESSES NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE STATED THAT THEY SAW THE ACFT DESCEND OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF A LOW CLOUD CEILING WITH THE WINGS AND EMPENNAGE SEPARATING JUST PRIOR TO THE GROUND IMPACT. THE PILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8427A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8427A-1985-01-25), registration cancelled 1985-01-25, S/N 32R-8129096 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32RT-301T (PA-32RT-30)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-301T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301t) (registry code 7103220) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R-8129096
- Airframe hours: 675
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-S1AD 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Raymond V. Macnemar
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 18, 1983, 150 hours before
- Departed: NEW, NEW ORLEANS, LA
- Destination: HKY, HICKORY, NC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 327 total, 151 in this make and model, 266 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast

## 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 19840303075029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840303075029A), Mar 3, 1984: Piper PA32R301T, Goodway, AL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Dive on radar indicates loss of control. Airframe separated on exiting clouds. Weather briefing was favoring VFR

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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