Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gainesville, Georgia 30501
Friday, July 25, 1997 18:44 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Witnesses said they observed takeoffs & landings being performed. Pilot(s) of the accident airplane (N8473P), turned off runway 22 after landing & taxied back to the approach end to take off again. As N8473P was taking off, the pilot of an arriving airplane ask about N8473P's location. Pilot(s) of N8473P replied that they were on the takeoff roll. During initial climb after lift-off, they transmitted 'give us some room to turn this thing around.' N8473P was observed to climb to about 100 ft agl, bank sharply left, then roll to a wings level attitude. Witnesses then lost sight N8473P due to obstructions. Smoke was observed, & 911 was called to report the accident. Witnesses said the landing gear was retracted when N8473P began banking left. Investigation revealed N8473P first contacted the tops of two 25 feet-tall trees, then it collided with a walkway canopy. Fire destroyed most of the right wing, the cockpit & cabin, & slight fire damage was noted to the left wing. Fire damage & browning of grass were noted forward of the right wing. No chemical or fire damage was noted to plants forward & beneath the initial impact point with the left wing inboard fuel tank, & no hydraulic rupture to the left wing fuel tanks was noted. An exam of the engine, flight controls, & airframe revealed no evidence of preimpact malfunction or failure. The fuel selector components had impact damage, & the fuel selector was found positioned about 15 deg to the right of the 'left' fuel tank position.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). Factors relating to the accident were: the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing, and obstructions (trees and building) that were encountered during the emergency landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/25/1997
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1844
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City GAINESVILLE
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30501
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LEE GILMER MEMORIAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GVL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport 199
Airport Elevation 1275
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1853 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 19
Weather Observation Facility ID GVL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1275
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1081
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 25 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:25PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8473P
NTSB Number MIA97FA219
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-32R-301T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32R-301
Aircraft Serial Number 32R-8229015
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jan 5 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 53
Airframe Hours 2885
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BELLE ISLE INT'L ACFT SALES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3836 CHEROKEE FORD RD.
Aircraft Owner City GAINESVILLE
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30506
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code GVL
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1843
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 4999
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --