Piper PA-32RT-301T accident near Goodway, Alabama, March 3, 1984
On March 3, 1984 at about 4:07 pm local time, a Piper PA-32RT-301T, registered N8427A, was destroyed in an accident near Goodway, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- March 3, 1984 · about 4:07 pm local time
- Place
- Goodway, Alabama
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-301T PA-32RT-30 · all PA-32RT-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8427A · no longer on the register · serial 32R-8129096
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT RECEIVED TWO WEATHER BRIEFINGS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. HE WAS TOLD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT BUT THE FSS BRIEFER STATED 'IF YOU GO NOW, IT'LL BE FINE.' THE PLT DEPARTED ON THE VFR FLT TO HICKORY, NC, AND DID NOT FILE A FLT PLAN. RADAR INFO OBTAINED DURING THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT N8427A WAS CRUISING AT 11,500 FT WHEN THE ACFT BEGAN A SERIES OF OSCILLATIONS THAT LED TO THE ACFT DESCENDING AT A RATE OF 15,000 FPM. WITNESSES NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE STATED THAT THEY SAW THE ACFT DESCEND OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF A LOW CLOUD CEILING WITH THE WINGS AND EMPENNAGE SEPARATING JUST PRIOR TO THE GROUND IMPACT. THE PILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
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: 327 hours in all; 151 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 266 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 675 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 18, 1983; 150 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NEW New Orleans LA at 9:06 am
- Destination: HKY Hickory NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.