Piper PA-32-300 accident near Macon, Georgia, December 21, 2002
On December 21, 2002, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N47420, was destroyed in an accident near Macon, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to oil starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 21, 2002
- Place
- Macon, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N47420 · no longer on the register · serial 32-7840007
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an instrument cross-country flight from Columbus Ohio, the pilot declared an emergency. Approach control gave the pilot a heading to the nearest airport and asked for the nature of the emergency. The pilot advised approach control that he had total lost of engine power, and would not be able to make the airport. According to the passenger the engine stopped and the pilot attempted to restart the engine. The pilot told the passengers to brace themselves because they were going to hit some trees. The airplane collided with trees and came to rest in a heavily wooded area. Examination of the internal engine case revealed scoring damage, and the connecting rods and pistons showed signs of heat distress. Approximately half a quart of engine oil was recovered from the 12 quart engine oil system. Metal debris was also retrieved from the oil sump. The engine compartment and nose section of the airplane sustained fire damage. According to a line mechanic at the departure airport, he noticed an oil leak coming from under the engine cowling onto the nose wheel pant during the servicing of a gear strut. The oil leak was pointed out to the pilot, and the pilot told the mechanic that he would look into it later.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 535 hours in all; 73 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,271.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 20, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: OH52 Columbus OH at 9:39 pm
- Destination: TVI Thomasville GA
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 150° at 13 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 800 ft; clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 | 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.