Piper PA-28-161 accident near Milledgeville, Georgia, May 18, 1985
On May 18, 1985 at about 12:51 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N8289H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Milledgeville, Georgia. 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
- May 18, 1985 · about 12:51 pm local time
- Place
- Milledgeville, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8289H · no longer on the register · serial 288116073
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT LEFT HOME AIRPORT AT 0400. FLT PLAN LEFT WITH FBO INDICATED 6 HOURS TO DESTINATION, NO EN ROUTE STOPS, AND 4+30 HOURS FUEL ON BOARD. FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATED, 4+36 HOURS ENDURANCE AVAILABLE. ACFT FLEW 4+47 HOURS. THE PILOT TOLD APPROACH CONTROL ACFT WAS FLYING ON FLUMES ABOUT 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE ACFT NOR SPILLED ON THE GROUND.
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: 157 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 92 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,234 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1985; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D36 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PBI West Palm Bch FL at 8:04 am
- Destination: RKW Rockwood TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from MCN, 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.