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October 28, 1986 · Piper PA-32-260 · N3285W

Lawrenceville, GA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 28, 1986
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Location
Lawrenceville, GA
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-260
Tail Number
N3285W
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL87FA012

ABOUT 20 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE CRUISING AT 6500', THE ENG LOST POWER. RPRTDLY, THE ENG WENT TO EITHER IDLE OR A WIND-MILLING COND & THE FUEL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO. THE PLT TRIED TO RESTART THE ENG BY USING EMERG PROCEDURES, BUT WAS UNABLE. HE INITIALLY TRIED TO CONTACT ATLANTA APCH CTL (SATELLITE RADAR-P POSITION/SAT-P) WHEN THE ACFT WAS APRX 12 MI NW OF GWINNETT CO ARPT; HOWEVER, HE HAD DIFFICULTY MAKING RDO CONTACT. AFTER CONTACT WAS MADE, HE DECLARED A 'MAYDAY SITUATION,' & 47 SEC LATER, HE WAS PROVIDED A VECTOR TO THE ARPT & WAS ADVISED IT WAS 7 MI AHEAD. SVRL SUBSEQUENTLY RDO CALLS WERE BLOCKED BY OTHER ACFT USING THE SAME FREQ. WHEN THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO GLIDE TO THE ARPT, HE STARTED A TURN TOLND ON A ROAD, BUT THE ACFT HIT A TREE, THEN CRASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE & HOUSE & BURNED. NEARBY PERSONS REMOVED THE OCCUPANTS FM THE ACFT, BUT THE ACFT, HOUSE & 2 CARS WERE BADLY BURNED. NO REASON WAS FND FOR LOSS OF FUEL PRESSURE & ENGPOWER. DOWNING & MATHIS AIRSTRIPS WERE LOCATED APRX 15 & 12 MI NW OF GWINNETT CO ARPT, APRX 3 MI RGT OF ACFT'S FLT PATH.

Full Narrative

ABOUT 20 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE CRUISING AT 6500', THE ENG LOST POWER. RPRTDLY, THE ENG WENT TO EITHER IDLE OR A WIND-MILLING COND & THE FUEL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO. THE PLT TRIED TO RESTART THE ENG BY USING EMERG PROCEDURES, BUT WAS UNABLE. HE INITIALLY TRIED TO CONTACT ATLANTA APCH CTL (SATELLITE RADAR-P POSITION/SAT-P) WHEN THE ACFT WAS APRX 12 MI NW OF GWINNETT CO ARPT; HOWEVER, HE HAD DIFFICULTY MAKING RDO CONTACT. AFTER CONTACT WAS MADE, HE DECLARED A 'MAYDAY SITUATION,' & 47 SEC LATER, HE WAS PROVIDED A VECTOR TO THE ARPT & WAS ADVISED IT WAS 7 MI AHEAD. SVRL SUBSEQUENTLY RDO CALLS WERE BLOCKED BY OTHER ACFT USING THE SAME FREQ. WHEN THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO GLIDE TO THE ARPT, HE STARTED A TURN TOLND ON A ROAD, BUT THE ACFT HIT A TREE, THEN CRASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE & HOUSE & BURNED. NEARBY PERSONS REMOVED THE OCCUPANTS FM THE ACFT, BUT THE ACFT, HOUSE & 2 CARS WERE BADLY BURNED. NO REASON WAS FND FOR LOSS OF FUEL PRESSURE & ENGPOWER. DOWNING & MATHIS AIRSTRIPS WERE LOCATED APRX 15 & 12 MI NW OF GWINNETT CO ARPT, APRX 3 MI RGT OF ACFT'S FLT PATH.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:03 EST
Nearest AirportGwinnett Co (2nm NNW)
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32-260
Tail NumberN3285W
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-E4B5 · Reciprocating · 260
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 29 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind350° @ 5 kt
Visibility11 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 48
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time17:48
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data