Piper PA-32-260 accident near Woodstock, Georgia, March 23, 1984
On March 23, 1984 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N4809S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Woodstock, Georgia (Air Acres airport). It was a personal 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
- March 23, 1984 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Woodstock, Georgia · Air Acres · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N4809S · no longer on the register · serial 32-1193
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER BREAKING GROUND DURING THE TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER & THE ACFT CAME BACK DOWN TO THE RWY. THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER & THE PLT CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF. THE ENGINE AGAIN LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT IMPACTED ON AN UNEVEN, GRASSY, OPEN AREA ABOUT 900 FT NORTH OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE PLT RECEIVED A HEAD INJURY & WAS UNABLETO REMEMBER DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT. THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH SHOULDER HARNESSES. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THERE WAS WATER IN THE RIGHT TANK & THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONED TO THE RIGHT TANK.
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: 1,498 hours in all; 670 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 1,344 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,526 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 8, 1983; 144 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,200 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:48 pm from FTY, 22 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.