Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Newnan, Georgia, June 6, 1985
On June 6, 1985 at about 7:10 am local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N8215B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newnan, Georgia. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 6, 1985 · about 7:10 am local time
- Place
- Newnan, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8215B · registry record · serial 32R-8029051
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENG STARTED RUNNING ROUGH THEN QUIT. THE PLT LANDED IN AWAREHOUSE PARKING LOT BETWEEN TWO ROWS OF 40-45 FOOT TRAILERS. EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE SHARP EDGES OF THE ROLL PIN HAD WORN THROUGH THE CENTERING SPACER FOR THE TACH DRIVE ASS'Y. WHICH THEN MIGRATED TO THE OIL SUMP. THE HEADS OF SEVEN CAM FOLLOWERS WERE BROKEN. THE ENG CASE WAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES BY FRAGMENTS OF METAL CRUSHED BETWEEN THE ROD CAPS AND CASE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,308 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 135 in the last 90 days; 1,187 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 754 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 22, 1985; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BHM at 7:14 am
- Destination: ATL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 am from ATL, 23 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.