# NTSB ATL87LA198: Piper PA-24-250, N6165P, St Marys, GA, July 5, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 5, 1987, 01:00 local (05:00 UTC)
- Place: St Marys, GA
- Coordinates: 30.749658, -81.569282 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7497&lon=-81.5693&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 17, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7472
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87LA198
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7472/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87LA198

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - qualification, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stolen aircraft/unauthorized use
  - landing gear - undetermined (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - gear extension - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - wheels up landing

## Analysis

AFTER RETURNING FM A LOCAL NGT FLT, THE ACFT WAS LNDD GEAR UP WHEN THE LNDG GEAR DID NOT EXTEND. THE ACFT BGN BURNING AFTER IT CAME TO REST. IT WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED BY FIRE & THE CAUSE OF THE GEAR MALFUNCTION WAS NOT DETERMINED. LOCAL POLICE, WHO RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT, NOTED 'AN ODOR, COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES' COMING FM THE PLT. HE WAS REMINDED OF THE GEORGIA IMPLIED CONSENT WARNING, BUT REFUSED TO PROVIDE A BLOOD SAMPLE FOR THE POLICE TO USE FOR A TOXICOLOGY TEST. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PLT HAD ONLY A STUDENT LICENSE & HAD TAKEN THE ACFT WITHOUT THE OWNER'SPERMISSION. THE OWNER WAS AN ASSOCIATE OF THE PLT'S UNCLE. ONE OF THE PASSENGERS STATED THAT HE & THE PLT HAD BEEN 'DRINKING' & THEY DECIDED TO GO FLYING WITH 2 OTHER PERSONS. HE NOTED THAT WHEN THE GEAR DID NOT EXTEND, HE SAW A RED HANDLE THAT SAID 'EMERGENCY GEAR DOWN.'  HE STATED 'I STARTED TO MESS WITH IT, BUT IT DID NOT DO ANY GOOD.'  THE PLT STATED THE GEAR DID NOT EXTEND BY USING EITHER THE NORMAL OR MANUAL SYS. HE RPRTD ONLY 2 HRS FLT TIME IN PA-24 ACFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6165P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6165P-1990-02-13), registration cancelled 1990-02-13, S/N 241266 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 241266
- Airframe hours: 4696
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1A5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Vaughn, Robert B
- Registered owner: Ballew, M Stan
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: 4J6, St Marys, runway 4, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 79 total, 2 in this make and model, 44 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: JAX, 15 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 19870705032259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870705032259A), Jul 5, 1987: Piper PA24250, St Marys, GA, Substantial damage. Unable to lower the wheels, the aircraft landed gear up. Student pilot had been drinking, took unauthorized flight.

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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