# NTSB ATL87FA012: Piper PA-32-260, N3285W, Lawrenceville, GA, October 28, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 28, 1986, 13:03 local (18:03 UTC)
- Place: Lawrenceville, GA
- Location: 33.9529° N, 83.9922° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lawrenceville, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9529&lon=-83.9922&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 7, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7264
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87FA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7264/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87FA012

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - object - utility pole (contributing factor)
  - object - residence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ABOUT 20 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE CRUISING AT 6500', THE ENG LOST POWER. RPRTDLY, THE ENG WENT TO EITHER IDLE OR A WIND-MILLING COND & THE FUEL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO. THE PLT TRIED TO RESTART THE ENG BY USING EMERG PROCEDURES, BUT WAS UNABLE. HE INITIALLY TRIED TO CONTACT ATLANTA APCH CTL (SATELLITE RADAR-P POSITION/SAT-P) WHEN THE ACFT WAS APRX 12 MI NW OF GWINNETT CO ARPT; HOWEVER, HE HAD DIFFICULTY MAKING RDO CONTACT. AFTER CONTACT WAS MADE, HE DECLARED A 'MAYDAY SITUATION,' & 47 SEC LATER, HE WAS PROVIDED A VECTOR TO THE ARPT & WAS ADVISED IT WAS 7 MI AHEAD. SVRL SUBSEQUENTLY RDO CALLS WERE BLOCKED BY OTHER ACFT USING THE SAME FREQ. WHEN THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO GLIDE TO THE ARPT, HE STARTED A TURN TOLND ON A ROAD, BUT THE ACFT HIT A TREE, THEN CRASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE & HOUSE & BURNED. NEARBY PERSONS REMOVED THE OCCUPANTS FM THE ACFT, BUT THE ACFT, HOUSE & 2 CARS WERE BADLY BURNED. NO REASON WAS FND FOR LOSS OF FUEL PRESSURE & ENGPOWER. DOWNING & MATHIS AIRSTRIPS WERE LOCATED APRX 15 & 12 MI NW OF GWINNETT CO ARPT, APRX 3 MI RGT OF ACFT'S FLT PATH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3285W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3285W-1992-05-15), registration cancelled 1992-05-15, S/N 32116 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-116
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Marion A. Allen, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 4, 1986
- Departed: 49A, ELLIJAY, GA
- Destination: 54A, PERRY, GA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 17A, Gwinnett Co

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 102 total, 20 in this make and model, 60 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 11 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PDK, 18 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 19861028052109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861028052109A), Oct 28, 1986: Piper PA32260, Lawrenceville, GA, Destroyed. The engine failed for unknown reasons. The aircraft struck a tree and a house. Suspect carburetor icing.

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.