Piper PA-23-160 accident near Atlanta, Georgia, June 14, 1982
On June 14, 1982 at about 8:49 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-160, registered N4072P, was destroyed in an accident near Atlanta, Georgia (Peachtree-Dekalb airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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 14, 1982 · about 8:49 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Peachtree-Dekalb
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-160 · all PA-23-160s on the register
- Registration
- N4072P · registry record · serial 23-1550
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND SPARKS WERE OBSERVED COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RIGHT ENGINE. THE AIRCREW ATTEMPTED TO FEATHER THE RIGHT ENGINE, BUT IT WOULD NOT FEATHER. THEY WERE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND DESCENDED INTO TREES. AFTER STRIKING TREES, THE PLANE CAME TO REST ON THE ROOF OF A HOUSE. THE AIRCRAFT BURST INTO FLAMES ABOUT 5 TO 10 MIN AFTER THE CRASH. A POLICE OFFICER THAT HAD RESPONDED AND HAD CLIMBED ONTO THE ROOF WAS REPORTEDLY THROWN OFF BY AN EXPLOSION. HE RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. AN EXAMINATION OF THE RIGHT ENGINE REVEALED THAT ONE BLADE OF THE MODEL HC-82XG PROPELLER DID NOT FEATHER AND WAS FREE TO MOVE. THE RETAINING CLAMP ON THIS BLADE WAS CRACKED AND HAD A PORTION MISSING. A METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT IT HAD FAILED FROM HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE. HARTZELL PROPELLER SERVICE BULLETIN, NO 126, DATED 12/9/80, RECOMMENDED THAT THIS CLAMP (AN OLD MODEL) BE REPLACED BY A NEW IMPROVED TYPE. NO OTHER PREIMPACT FAILURES WERE FOUND.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 271 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 77 in the last 90 days; 205 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,339 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B3B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PDK Atlanta GA at 4:45 pm
- Destination: PDK Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,378 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 185°F (85°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.