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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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July 5, 1987 · Piper PA-24-250 · N6165P

St Marys, GA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 5, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
St Marys, GA
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-250
Tail Number
N6165P
Operator
Vaughn Robert B
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL87LA198

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.

Full Narrative

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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time01:00 EDT
Nearest AirportSTMARYS (0nm N)
Runway4
Runway Length5000 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-24-250
Tail NumberN6165P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorVaughn Robert B
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-A1A5 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 20 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
WindCalm
Visibility4 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 12000 ft
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time05:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data