Berry Hill Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Stockbridge, Georgia 30281
Saturday, August 31, 1991 18:40 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING CLIMBOUT ON A GO AROUND, THE PILOT REPORTED A REDUCTION IN RIGHT ENGINE POWER. REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT MAINTAINED A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE UNTIL THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND CRASHED IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE ADJACENT TO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME. WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT BOTH CARBURETORS WERE LEAKING AIR BETWEEN THE CARBURETOR BOWLS AND THROTTLE BODIES. A WITNESS REPORTED REDUCED POWER, BUT THE ENGINES CONTINUED TO OPERATE. THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN ONLY 2 HOURS SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION ON JUNE 20, 1990. THE PILOT COMPLETED A BFR 60 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED AFTER EXPERIENCING A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE, LOOSE CARBURETORS, ANNUAL INSPECTION NOT PERFORMED, AND PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/31/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1840
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City STOCKBRIDGE
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30281
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BERRY HILL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 4A0
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 290
Airport Elevation 770
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1753 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 345
Weather Observation Facility ID ATL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1026
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
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) 2950
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1602
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45247
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:37AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N44PG
NTSB Number ATL91LA164
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-23-160
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-23-160
Aircraft Serial Number 23-1996
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 20 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 3136
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GILDER, RALPH W.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 110 COUNTY ROAD
Aircraft Owner City FAYETTEVILLE
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30214
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GILDER, RALPH W.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 110 COUNTY ROAD
Operator City FAYETTEVILLE
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30214
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1800
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 Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --