# NTSB ATL84MA208: Piper PA-32-300, N8640N, Canton, GA, June 24, 1984 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report - Date: June 24, 1984, 04:31 local (08:31 UTC) - Place: Canton, GA - Coordinates: 34.240261, -84.489173 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2403&lon=-84.4892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 5 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 6568 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84MA208 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6568/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84MA208 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (contributing factor) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - qualification, pilot in command (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - preflight briefing service - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor) - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - flight control,stabilator - overload - flight control,stabilator - separation - wing - overload - wing - separation - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE ACFT WITH A STUDENT PLT AT THE CONTROLS HAD AN IN-FLT BREAKUP DURING A NIGHT X-COUNTRY FLT. DURING A PREFLT WX BRIEFING, HE WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. THE PLT TERMINATED THE CONVERSATION BEFORE THE BRIEFING WAS COMPLETED. WHILE IN FLT, THE PLT WAS IN RADIO & RADAR CONTACT WITH ATLANTA CENTER. AS THE FLT NEARED A THUNDERSTORM, THE PLT ASKED FOR RADAR ASSISTANCE. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE ACFT ENTERED A RIGHT TURN, & AFTER ABOUT 270 DEG OF TURN, RADAR & RADIO CONTACT WERE LOST. PARTS OF THE ACFT WERE FOUND SCATTERED OVER A WIDE AREA IN THE VICINITY OF WHERE RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE STABILATORS & WINGS HAD SEPARATED IN FLT. THERE WAS EVIDENCETHAT THEY HAD FAILED FROM OVERLOAD & THAT THE STABILATORS HAD FAILED DOWNWARD. A CHECK OF THE PLT'S LIVER FLUID SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.092%. THE PLT WAS NOT ENDORSED FOR THIS NIGHT X-COUNTRY FLT. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8640N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8640N-2013-03-07), registration cancelled 2013-03-07, S/N 32-7140033, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7140033 - Airframe hours: 1796 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Circle C. Farms, doing business as Kennith R. Powell - Registered owner: Circle C. Farmes - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 29, 1983, 84 hours before - Departed: RNC, MCMINNVILLE, TN - Destination: FTY, ATLANTA, GA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 79 total, 43 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Night/dark - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FTY ## 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 19840624029329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840624029329A), Jun 24, 1984: Piper PA32300, Canton, GA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Airframe failure enroute at night with thunderstorms in area. Disregard safety regulation and gross misjudgement. ## Other investigations on N8640N (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW76FPJ21](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76FPJ21), Dec 31, 1975: Piper PA-32 (N8640N), Stroud, OK, substantial damage 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.