# NTSB ATL85LA021: Piper PA-38-112, N91365, Cumming, GA, October 28, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 28, 1984, 17:39 local (22:39 UTC)
- Place: Cumming, GA
- Location: 34.2061° N, 84.1338° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cumming, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2061&lon=-84.1338&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6695
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85LA021
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6695/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85LA021

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - judgment - improper, pilot in command
  - weather forecast - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

DESPITE A FSS FORECAST OF THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS THE PLT DEPARTED IN ORDER TO EVALUATE WX SITUATION FOR HIMSELF. CONDITIONS WERE AS FORECASTED AND THE PLT ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT FROM WHICH HE HAD DEPARTED. DUE TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE STORM SYSTEM BEHIND THE FLT A RETURN WAS NOT POSSIBLE. THE PLT THEN DECIDED TO PERFORM A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN AN UNIMPROVED FIELD WHICH APPEARED SMOOTH WHEN HE HAD OVERFLOWN IT. THE TERRAIN PROVED TO BE ROUGHER THAN ANTICIPATED CAUSING THE ACFT TO NOSE DOWN DURING THE ROLLOUT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N91365](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91365-1988-06-29), registration cancelled 1988-06-29, S/N 3882A0017 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-82A0017
- Airframe hours: 1129
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Carpet Capital Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 12, 1984, 39 hours before
- Departed: GVL, GAINSVILLE, GA
- Destination: DNN, DALTON, GA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 206 total, 104 in this make and model, 125 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 11 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PDK, 33 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19841028060699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841028060699A), Oct 28, 1984: Piper PA38112, Cumming, GA, Substantial damage. Boxed in by thunderstorms elected to land in a farm field. Field was rough and caused a nose up on the rollout.

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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