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December 27, 1984 · Piper PA-32R-301 · N8227J

Bradley, FL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 27, 1984
Injury Outcomes
6 injuries (6 fatalities)
Location
Bradley, FL
Aircraft
Piper PA-32R-301
Tail Number
N8227J
Operator
Decatur Aviation
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA85MA064

THE PLT COMPLETED A 30 MIN INSURANCE CHECK FLT, THEN LOADED THE ACFT WITH BAGGAGE/PAX & DEPARTED DECAUTER, IL ON A FLT TO NAPLES, FL. A REFUELING STOP WAS MADE AT COLUMBUS, GA. AT 1750 THE ACFT DEPARTED COLUMBUS & CRUISED UNEVENTFULLY UNTIL SOMETIME AFTER 1927 (AFTER THE PLT CONTACTED ARTCC & REPORTED MAINTAINING 9000'). STARTING AT 1953, ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE ACFT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL; BUT THE ACFT CONTINUED ON ITS ROUTE UNTIL 2018, THEN IT ENTERED A RGT DESCENDING TURN. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AT 2019 AFTER MORE VARIATIONS IN HDG & ALT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLT BREAKUP. AT THAT TIME, THE ACFT WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN APRX 188 LBS OVER ITS MAX WT LMT & 0.4 INCH BEHIND ITS AFT CG LMT. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE SHOWED EVIDENCE OF POSITIVE OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE WINGS & STABILATORS. THERE WAS EVIDENCETHAT THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT WAS ON, BUT THE ALTERNATOR, VOLTAGE REGULATOR & OVERVOLTAGE RELAY CHECKED GOOD. AT 2030, RADARDATA SHOWED PRECIP & CLD TOPS TO 14,000'. THE PLT HAD NOT MET THE IFR REQUIREMENTS OF 14 CFR 61.57.

Full Narrative

THE PLT COMPLETED A 30 MIN INSURANCE CHECK FLT, THEN LOADED THE ACFT WITH BAGGAGE/PAX & DEPARTED DECAUTER, IL ON A FLT TO NAPLES, FL. A REFUELING STOP WAS MADE AT COLUMBUS, GA. AT 1750 THE ACFT DEPARTED COLUMBUS & CRUISED UNEVENTFULLY UNTIL SOMETIME AFTER 1927 (AFTER THE PLT CONTACTED ARTCC & REPORTED MAINTAINING 9000'). STARTING AT 1953, ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE ACFT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL; BUT THE ACFT CONTINUED ON ITS ROUTE UNTIL 2018, THEN IT ENTERED A RGT DESCENDING TURN. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AT 2019 AFTER MORE VARIATIONS IN HDG & ALT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLT BREAKUP. AT THAT TIME, THE ACFT WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN APRX 188 LBS OVER ITS MAX WT LMT & 0.4 INCH BEHIND ITS AFT CG LMT. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE SHOWED EVIDENCE OF POSITIVE OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE WINGS & STABILATORS. THERE WAS EVIDENCETHAT THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT WAS ON, BUT THE ALTERNATOR, VOLTAGE REGULATOR & OVERVOLTAGE RELAY CHECKED GOOD. AT 2030, RADARDATA SHOWED PRECIP & CLD TOPS TO 14,000'. THE PLT HAD NOT MET THE IFR REQUIREMENTS OF 14 CFR 61.57.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:20 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32R-301
Tail NumberN8227J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorDecatur Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-K1G5D · Reciprocating · 300
Seats7

People & Injuries

Injury Summary6 injuries (6 fatalities)
Fatal6
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total6
Crew 1Age 45 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind80° @ 10 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 4500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point66 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time00:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data