Bacon County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Alma, Georgia 31510
Wednesday, February 11, 2004 21:10 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was operating under visual flight rules (VFR) with flight following and requested to descend toward the airport. An air traffic controller instructed the pilot to maintain VFR. The last recorded radar position for the flight was approximately 9 nautical miles southeast of the airport at 2,400 feet MSL. The controller stated to the pilot, "radar contact lost squawk VFR change to advisory frequency approved," and the pilot acknowledged. No further radio or radar contact was made with the flight. The wreckage was found at the base of broken trees in a wooded area 0.9 nm south southeast of the runway 33 threshold, approximately 1,100 feet left of a straight-in course for runway 33. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction was observed. The automated weather observing system at the airport reported calm winds, reduced visibility with light rain and mist, and low clouds at the approximate time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision, and his failure to maintain aircraft control which resulted in continued VFR flight into IMC and the subsequent collision with trees during approach.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/11/2004
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2110
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Alma
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31510
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 313113N
Event Location Longitude 0823002W
Event Location Airport Bacon County Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KAMG
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 168
Airport Elevation 200
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2104 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 348
Weather Observation Facility ID KAMG
Elevation of weather observation facility 200
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height 1600
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 600
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1.75
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.15
Density Altitude (feet) -313
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17671
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Feb 12 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 8 2005 12:51PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Atlanta FSDO - 11

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6473J
NTSB Number ATL04FA075
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-4900
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Kenneth Max Borzage
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1881 Harvest Way
Aircraft Owner City Loganville
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30052
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 KFPR
Departure City Fort Pierce
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1902
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KAMG
Destination City Alma
Destination State GA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record --
User who most recently changed record --
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 4999
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --