Piper PA-34-200 accident near Peachtree City, Georgia, August 24, 2002
On August 24, 2002 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200, registered N55210, was substantially damaged in an accident near Peachtree City, Georgia (Peachtree City-Falcon Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The certified flight instructors failure to feather the propeller in accordance with operating procedures that resulted in loss of altitude and the in-flight collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2002 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Peachtree City, Georgia · Peachtree City-Falcon Field · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200 · all PA-34-200s on the register
- Registration
- N55210 · no longer on the register · serial 34-7350187
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A certified flight instructor was instructing steep turns, VMC, and engine out procedures. The CFI instructed the student to shut down the left engine for training purposes. After several unsuccessful attempts to restart the engine the CFI took command of the airplane. No mention was made by the CFI or the pilot to secure the engine and feather the propeller after it became apparent that the engine would not restart. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude. The CFI radioed "mayday" and preformed an off field landing. Examination of the engine revealed that the left engine started and operated normally. The propeller governor was inspected and functioned properly. Review of the approved Aircraft Flight Manual stated the airplane should have been able to climb at a rate of 190 feet per minute at sea level with the propeller feathered. Section VB-423 page 3-11, 3-12 of the Piper PA-34-200 information manual states the emergency procedures for feathering, and fuel management during single engine operation. No mechanical or flight control malfunction were discovered during the examination of the airplane.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 934 hours in all; 162 in this make and model; 174 in the last 90 days; 129 in the last 30 days; 856 as pilot in command; 657 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 84 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,757 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 21, 2002; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FFC Peachtree City GA at 1:30 pm
- Destination: FFC Peachtree City GA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from FFC, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.