Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Young Harris, Georgia 30528
Saturday, April 11, 1992 20:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WITNESSES STATED THAT THEY OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT CIRCLING IN THE VALLEYS OF THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN FOR ABOUT TEN MINUETS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THEY SAID IT WAS A VERY DARK NIGHT AND LIGHT RAIN WAS FALLING IN THE AREA. THE VISIBILITY WAS REPORTED BY THE WITNESSES TO BE GOOD. THE WITNESSES STATED, THAT AT THE TIME THEY OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT, THAT THEY COULD HEAR THE ENGINE RUNNING. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN AT THE TOP OF A RIDGE LINE. THERE WERE LARGE GRASS FIELDS LOCATED IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE RIDGE LINE, IN THE DIRECTION OF IMPACT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM TERRAIN. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE DARK NIGHT, RAIN, AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/11/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2050
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City YOUNG HARRIS
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30528
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2050 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID CHA
Elevation of weather observation facility 682
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 75
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 12000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 523
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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) 2240
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47012
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7248J
NTSB Number ATL92FA076
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 None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-24590
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PARTLOW, ALLEN L.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 11415 INDIAN CREEK RD.
Aircraft Owner City INDIANAPOLIS
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46236
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PARTLOW, ALLEN L.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 11415 INDIAN CREEK RD.
Operator City INDIANAPOLIS
Operator State IN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 46236
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code I21
Departure City INDIANAPOLIS
Departure State IN
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OPF
Destination City MIAMI
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --