Piper PA-28-161 accident near Chamblee, Georgia, February 15, 2000
On February 15, 2000 at about 5:27 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N8447Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chamblee, Georgia (Dekalb-Peachtree airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The S76 helicopter pilot's failure to follow ATC landing sequence clearance, which resulted in the PA-28's encounter with the helicopters wake turbulence. A factor was the air traffic controllers clearance procedure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 15, 2000 · about 5:27 pm local time
- Place
- Chamblee, Georgia · Dekalb-Peachtree · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8447Y · no longer on the register · serial 28-8216026
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Local Air Traffic Controller had sequenced an S76 helicopter as number two for landing behind a PA-28, that had been cleared for a touch-and-go. The pilot of the helicopter acknowledged the clearance and stated that he had it in sight and was number two. The controller then cleared the PA-28 for a touch and go. According to witnesses the S76 helicopter passed the PA-28 on short final then made a low approach, slowing to a hover past the departure end of the runway. The local controller observed what happened and told the helicopter and the PA-28 to continue their approaches. Witnesses stated that the PA-28 pilot attempted to avoid the helicopter and was caught in the helicopters rotor wash.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 43 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,453 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 17, 1999; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PDK at 4:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2L, 3,744 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from PDK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.