Piper PA-34-200 accident near Atlanta, Georgia, July 18, 2005
On July 18, 2005 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200, registered N143PF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Atlanta, Georgia (Peachtree City-Falcon Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper use of normal braking and the failure to maintain directional control during landing. Also causal was the instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight which resulted in a collision with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 2005 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Peachtree City-Falcon Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200 · all PA-34-200s on the register
- Registration
- N143PF · no longer on the register · serial 34-7250074
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated the private pilot had just completed a simulated single engine approach and the airplane touched down on runway 31. The CFI informed the pilot to apply brakes so he could turn off at the mid filed taxi way. The pilot applied brakes and the airplane veered to the left. The CFI verbally instructed the pilot to get off the brakes and completed a positive transfer of the flight controls while applying right rudder. The airplane continued to veer to the left. The CFI applied full right rudder, and assumed the airplane kept going to the left because the left main landing gear tire was flat. The airplane went off the left side of the runway and the left main landing gear collided with uneven terrain and collapsed. Examination of the runway revealed skid marks were present 1,400 feet from the approach end of the runway and extended 345 yards to where the right main landing gear left a gouge in the sod area west of the runway. Examination of the left main landing gear tire revealed the tire was flat with a flat spot and hole present in the tire. A functional check of the brake system revealed no anomalies.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command; 1,700 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 261 hours in all; 112 in this make and model; 92 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Falcom Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: GA Athens GA at 4:05 pm
- Destination: FFC Peachtree City GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 31, 5,219 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from ATL, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.