# NTSB ATL88FA056: Piper PA-28-140, N15629, Anniston, AL, December 9, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 9, 1987, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Anniston, AL
- Coordinates: 33.580821, -85.830192 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5808&lon=-85.8302&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 27, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7571
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88FA056
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7571/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88FA056

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, climb
  - weather evaluation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE VFR PILOT CONTINUED THE FLIGHT INTO DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND ATTEMPTED TO DESCEND BELOW THE LOWERING CLOUDS UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOO LOW TO TURN AROUND SAFELY AND RETURN TO VFR FLIGHT CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND STRUCK THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN. THE PLT STATED THAT WHEN HE COULD NOT GET UNDER THE LOW CLOUDS HE DECIDED TO CLIMB AND ATTEMPT TO GET ON TOP. HE SAID HE HAD APPLIED FULL POWER TO CLIMB AND ABOUT 5 SECONDS LATER THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE TOP OF TREES AND THEN THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15629](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15629-1988-03-31), registration cancelled 1988-03-31, S/N 287325121 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7325121
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: A. E. Gambel - J. R. Gambel
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 16, 1987, 11 hours before
- Destination: CAE, COLUMBIA, SC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 388 total, 309 in this make and model, 373 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ANB, 30 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 19871209069979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871209069979A), Dec 9, 1987: Piper PA28140, Anniston, AL, Substantial damage. Continued flight into lowering ceilings and crashed into cloud obscured trees. Was advised weather was marginal.

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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