Piper PA-32R-301T N8473P

Summary

On 25 July 1997 at about 22:44 local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T registered N8473P was involved in an accident near Gainesville, Georgia, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 July 1997 at 22:44

Classification

Accident

Location

Gainesville, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Lee Gilmer Memorial (GVL)

Coordinates

34.2906, -83.8293

Aircraft

Piper PA-32R-301T

Registration

N8473P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA97FA219

2 people died.

loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). Factors relating to the accident were: the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing, and obstructions (trees and building) that were encountered during the emergency landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses said they observed takeoffs & landings being performed. Pilot(s) of the accident airplane (N8473P), turned off runway 22 after landing & taxied back to the approach end to take off again. As N8473P was taking off, the pilot of an arriving airplane ask about N8473P's location. Pilot(s) of N8473P replied that they were on the takeoff roll. During initial climb after lift-off, they transmitted 'give us some room to turn this thing around.' N8473P was observed to climb to about 100 ft agl, bank sharply left, then roll to a wings level attitude. Witnesses then lost sight N8473P due to obstructions. Smoke was observed, & 911 was called to report the accident. Witnesses said the landing gear was retracted when N8473P began banking left. Investigation revealed N8473P first contacted the tops of two 25 feet-tall trees, then it collided with a walkway canopy. Fire destroyed most of the right wing, the cockpit & cabin, & slight fire damage was noted to the left wing. Fire damage & browning of grass were noted forward of the right wing. No chemical or fire damage was noted to plants forward & beneath the initial impact point with the left wing inboard fuel tank, & no hydraulic rupture to the left wing fuel tanks was noted. An exam of the engine, flight controls, & airframe revealed no evidence of preimpact malfunction or failure. The fuel selector components had impact damage, & the fuel selector was found positioned about 15 deg to the right of the 'left' fuel tank position.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.