Valdosta Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Valdosta, Georgia 31601
Wednesday, May 21, 1986 5:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND THE PILOT DID NOT FEATHER THE PROPELLER. A TRAFFIC PATTERN WAS FLOWN WITH THE AIRCRAFT IN A CONTINUOUS DESCENT. INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE REMAINED TO MANEUVER THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RUNWAY, SO THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON LEVEL GROUND NEAR THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. JUST BEFORE LANDING, HE EXTENDED THE GEAR, THEN THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD WHICH SHEARED OFF THE LANDING GEAR. NO FUEL WAS FOUND FORWARD OF THE FIRE WALL IN THE FUEL LINE TO THE LEFT ENGINE. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN STARVATION OF FUEL TO THE LEFT ENGINE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/21/1986
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 515
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City VALDOSTA
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31601
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport VALDOSTA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID VLD
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 204
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 515 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
Weather Observation Facility ID VLD
Elevation of weather observation facility 204
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 200
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 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 5
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1240
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 21 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 747
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 31634
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2850S
NTSB Number ATL86FA137
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-34-200T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-34-200T
Aircraft Serial Number 34-7970287
Certified Max Gross Weight 4570
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 16 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIR TAXI SOUTH, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1547
Aircraft Owner City VALDOSTA
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 31601
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code VLD
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City SARASOTA
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 6302
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --