Fitzgerald Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ocilla, Georgia 31774
Wednesday, October 30, 1985 20:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT OF THE SECOND COMPANY AIRCRAFT TO ARRIVE IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIRPORT HELD WHILE THE FIRST ATTEMPTED AN NDR APPROACH. AFTER THE FIRST AIRCRAFT MADE A MISSED APPROACH THE PILOT OF THE SECOND AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTED THE APPROACH. THE AIRCRAFT FLEW INTO THE TREES SEVERAL MILES PRIOR TO REACHING THE AIRPORT. A RADAR ALTIMETER WAS ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT BUT WAS NOT USED. THE PILOT COMPLAINED THAT IT WAS JUST ANOTHER DANG BUZZER AND THERE WERE TOO MANY OF THOSE ALREADY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/30/1985
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2030
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City OCILLA
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31774
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FITZGERALD MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FZG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 4
Degrees magnetic from airport 210
Airport Elevation 365
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2046 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 115
Weather Observation Facility ID AMG
Elevation of weather observation facility 201
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 600
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
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) 1100
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2541
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 30 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2010
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 30272
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8401E
NTSB Number ATL86FA014
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-34-220T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-34-220T
Aircraft Serial Number 34-8133135
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 1 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 506
Airframe Hours 1812
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WALDRON & WALTERS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 113 SOUTH CHERRY STREER
Aircraft Owner City OCILLA
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 31774
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) Executive/Corporate
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ATL
Departure City ATLANTA
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1930
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FZG
Destination City FITZGERALD
Destination State GA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --