# NTSB ATL87FA042: Piper PA-28-140, N4576R, Pell City, AL, October 13, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 13, 1986, 00:00 local (06:00 UTC)
- Place: Pell City, AL
- Coordinates: 33.630725, -86.290115 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6307&lon=-86.2901&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7273
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87FA042
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7273/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87FA042

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather forecast - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, climb
  - terrain condition - uphill
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ALBANY GEORGIA FOR FENTON MISSOURI WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. VFR NOT RECOMMENDED HAD BEEN GIVEN TO THE COMMERCIAL, CFI, INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT TWICE DURING THE DAY. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND TWO MONTHS LATER ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN IN ALABAMA. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BURNED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4576R (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2821318
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 140 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gary W. Gosh
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ABY, ALBANY, GA
- Destination: FENTON, MO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim

## Weather

- Conditions: Day

## 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 19861013055409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861013055409A), Oct 13, 1986: Piper PA28140, Pell City, AL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The aircraft hit trees in mountainous terrain. Suspect vacuum pump failed while aircraft was in IFR conditions.

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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