Piper PA-32-300 accident near Blairsville, Georgia, August 30, 1983
On August 30, 1983 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N8987N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Blairsville, Georgia (Blairsville airport). It was a personal 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 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
- August 30, 1983 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Blairsville, Georgia · Blairsville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N8987N · no longer on the register · serial 32-40870
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE RUN-UP BEFORE TAKEOFF, HE NOTED THAT THE RIGHT BRAKE WAS NOT FIRM, BUT HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE FLT. WHILE CRUISING, HE CHECKED THE BRAKE & REPORTEDLY, NO PRESSURE WAS AVAILABLE. THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS ROUTINE UNTIL LANDING. DURING THE FLARE TO LAND, HE ROUNDED OUT HIGH WITH FULL FLAPS & REDUCED HIS POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD & WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. IN HIS ACCIDENT REPORT, THE PLT SUGGESTED THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE FLOWN WITH FAULTY BRAKES & COULD HAVE HAD MORE PRACTICE IN SHORT FIELD AND/OR SLOW APCHS WITH FULL FLAPS.
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
- Flight time: 850 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 850 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 11, 1983; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Orlando FL at 1:15 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 25, 3,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Observation at 1:00 pm from CHA, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.