ATL84MA148

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-34-220T · Mt Airy, GA · April 23, 1984

Accident · FatalMajor investigationFinal report
Date
April 23, 1984, 08:10 local (13:10 UTC)
Place
Mt Airy, GA
Injuries
6 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N8443HPiper PA-34-220T
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19840423014049A
Case key
6567

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight collision with objectApproach
In-flight planning/decision - improperPilot in commandFactor
Procedures/directives - not followedAtc personnel(artcc)Factor
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - fogFactor
Weather condition - obscurationFactor
Weather condition - below approach/landing minimumsFactor
Weather observation - not issuedAtc personnel(artcc)Factor
Ifr procedure - improperPilot in commandCause
Minimum descent altitude - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Missed approach - not performedPilot in commandCause
Lack of familiarity with geographic areaPilot in command
Safety advisory - not issuedAtc personnel(artcc)Factor
Terrain condition - risingFactor
Object - tree(s)Factor

Analysis

Drg arrival, the plt reqd & rcvd clnc to fly drct to the unctld arpt, altho the arpt had no terminal nav fac & the acft had no RNAV type equip. Nrby at athens, the 0745 spl wx OBS was in part: indef cig, sky obscd, vsby 1/4 mi with fog. At 0801, atl ctr clrd the plt to intercept the toccoa 229 radial & proceed inbnd via the vor/dme rwy 6 apch, & when on the radial, to dscnd & maint 4000 ft. the plt was clrd for the apch, & at 0803, bfr rchg the iaf on the 33 mi DME arc, he was advised the arpt was 1 mi off his rgt wing. The acft tracked outbnd in the vcnty of the 229 radial, then turned backtwd the arpt. However, it never got established inbnd on the radial. Subsequently, the acft tracked rgt of course & hit trees on rising trrn aprx 3.25 mi east of the arpt at 1660 ft MSL. The mda for the apch was 1920 ft. an ear witness saidthe vsby was 40 to 50 ft with dense fog. Mins for the apch were 500 ft cig & 1 mi vsby. Atl ctr had a shift change as the acft arrived. It did not advise radar svc terminated nor advise of wx drg the apch. Plt's 1st apch to this arpt.

Aircraft

Registration
N8443H
Reported as
Piper PA-34-220T
Category
Airplane
Serial number
34-8133251
Airframe hours
627
Engine
Continental L/TSIO-360-KB, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Business · Part 91
Registered owner
Paul E. Bleile Company
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · September 24, 1983 · 82 hours before
Departed
OH21 · Norwalk, OH
Destination
50A · Cornelia, GA
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
50A · Habersham County, runway 6, 3,750 × 60 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
23
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
1,600 total

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Wind
210° at 3 knots
Lowest ceiling
100 ft
Temperature
52 °F, dew point 52 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
AHN, 45 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.