Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gainesville, Georgia 30502
Tuesady, February 16, 1988 21:20 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT RPTD THAT HE INADVERTENTLY ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO DESCEND BELOW THE VASI GLIDEPATH WHILE ON SHORT-FINAL, AND THAT HE FAILED TO REACT IN TIME TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED AN EMBANKMENT SHORT OF THE RWY THRESHOLD, IN A NOSE-HIGH ATTITUDE. THE PLT INDICATED THAT HE HAD 'FIXATED' ON THE RWY THRESHOLD LIGHTS DURING THE NIGHTTIME APPCH, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO DETECT THE DESCENT BELOW THE GLIDEPATH.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/16/1988
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2120
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City GAINESVILLE
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30502
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 2
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 On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 1277
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 380
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 17 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 910
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36051
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:32AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9265T
NTSB Number ATL88LA091
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-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number PA-38-112
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours 1993
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SIGOURNEY IOWA AIRPORT
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT. 3 BOX 63
Aircraft Owner City SIGOURNEY
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 52591
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name OLD SOUTH AVIATION, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 106 ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
Operator City ATLANTA
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30341
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 PDK
Departure City ATLANTA
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1940
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code GVL
Destination City GAINESVILLE
Destination State GA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 22
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --