Piper PA-28-161 accident near Atlanta, Georgia, June 19, 1982
On June 19, 1982 at about 10:13 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N31883, was destroyed in an accident near Atlanta, Georgia (Dekalb-Peachtree airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1982 · about 10:13 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Dekalb-Peachtree · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N31883 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7816595
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS IN WINDS THAT WERE VARIABLE 330 TO 340 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS. DURING THE SECOND TOUCH-AND-GO, THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN NORMALLY. HOWEVER, AS IT WAS ACCELERATING FOR TAKEOFF, THE PLANE SUDDENLY SWERVED TO THE LEFT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, IT STRUCK THREE PARKED AIRCRAFT. A BEECH 58 WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO A PIPER PA-31 AND A BEECH 35. THE STUDENT REPORTED THAT AFTER HE ADDED POWER FOR TAKEOFF, HE REALIZED THAT HE HAD NEGLECTED TO RAISE THE FLAPS. HE REPORTED THAT THE PLANE SWERVED AS HE REACHED TO RETRACT THE FLAPS. HE SUSTECTED THAT A GUST OF WIND WAS ENCOUNTERED AS HE WAS DISTRACTED WITH ADJUSTING HIS FLAPS. ALSO, HE WAS USING HIS SHOULDER HARNESS AND BELIEVED THIS PREVENTED HIM FROM SUSTAINING MORE SERIOUS INJURIES.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 33 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,439 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PDK Atlanta GA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: PDK Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,966 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 185°F (85°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:55 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.