# NTSB ATL91FA124: Piper PA-28, N91SM, Mt. Berry, GA, June 25, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 25, 1991, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Mt. Berry, GA
- Coordinates: 34.309978, -85.230369 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3100&lon=-85.2304&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 12, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8330
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL91FA124
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8330/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91FA124

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING, HIS POOR INFLIGHT DECISION TO CONTINUE INTO DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND HIS INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO IMC. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE CLOUDS OBSCURING THE MOUNTAIN AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, cruise - normal
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE NEWLY-CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT (A BRITISH CITIZEN) WAS RETURNING FROM A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. ABOUT 5 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE AIRFPLANE IMPACTED THE SIDE OF LAVENDER MOUNTAIN. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND 11 DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE CRASH SITE WAS OBSCURED IN CLOUDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT-RATED. DAMAGE TO TREES AND TO THE AIRFRAME WERE INDICATIVE OF A LEVEL FLIGHT, WINGS LEVEL COLLISION WITH THE TREES. THE PILOT OBTAINED SOME WEATHER INFORMATION FROM FSS EARLIER IN THE DAY, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A BRIEFING FOR HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT, AND DID NOT OBTAIN ANY WEATHER INFO AT HIS LAST FUELING STOP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N91SM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91SM-2013-05-17), registration cancelled 2013-05-17, S/N 28-7515345, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7515345
- Airframe hours: 2272
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Northwest Georgia Aviation,Inc
- Registered owner: Northwest Georgia Aviation,Inc
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 21, 1991, 23 hours before
- Departed: 06A, TUSKEGEE, AL
- Destination: RMG, ROME, GA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 80 total, 50 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MGE, 44 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 19910625030609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910625030609A), Jun 25, 1991: Piper PA28151, Mt Berry, GA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into trees on cloud obscured mountain. VFR pilot no weather briefing.

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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