# NTSB ATL86FA064: Piper PA-32RT-300T, N222HD, Milwaukee, NC, January 27, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 27, 1986, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Milwaukee, NC
- Location: 36.4025° N, 77.2312° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Milwaukee, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4025&lon=-77.2312&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6922
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL86FA064
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6922/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL86FA064

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, unknown
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO DESCEND AND LEVEL OFF AT LOW ALT. WITNESSES INDICATED THAT IT LEVELED OFF JUST ABOVE THE TREES, THEN ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND DOVE INTO WOODED TERRAIN. THE ENG WAS REPORTED TO BE RUNNING LOUD AND STEADY UNTIL IMPACT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. APRX 35 MI SW AT ROCKY MOUNT, NC, THE WX WAS, IN PART: 2500 FT BROKEN, VIS 7 MI, WIND FROM 300 DEG AT 12 GUSTING 20 KTS. FOR AN AREA TO THE WEST OF THE CRASH SITE, A SIGMET WAS IN EFFECT WHICH WARNED OF POSSIBLE MODERATE TO OCCASIONALLY SEVERE TURBULENCE BELOW 8000 FT WITH LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR BELOW 2000 FT. HOWEVER, NO RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WX WAS VERIFIED. A TOXICOLOGY TEST SHOWED THAT THE PLT HAD 13.9 MG/L OF COCAINE IN HIS BLOOD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N222HD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N222HD-2014-09-16), registration cancelled 2014-09-16, S/N 32R-7887089, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32RT-300T (PA-32RT-30)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (registry code 7103216) (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: 32R-7887089
- Airframe hours: 1633
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-S1AD 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sea Express,Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 6, 1985, 48 hours before
- Departed: NORFOLK, VA
- Destination: FT.LAUDERDALE, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 8,000 total, 6,040 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RWI, 35 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 19860127001379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860127001379A), Jan 27, 1986: Piper PA32RT300T, Milwaukee, NC, Destroyed. Flew low over the treetops, then rolled into a steep bank and dived into the ground. Cocaine found in pilots blood.

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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