Piper PA-32R-301 accident near Columbia, South Carolina, April 20, 1985
On April 20, 1985 at about 3:20 am local time, a Piper PA-32R-301, registered N8047P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbia, South Carolina (Columbia Metro airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- April 20, 1985 · about 3:20 am local time
- Place
- Columbia, South Carolina · Columbia Metro · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301s on the register
- Registration
- N8047P · registry record · serial 32R-8213025
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT DURING TAKEOFF THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR STRUCK A LARGE DOG WHICH RAN ONTO THE RWY. THE TAKEOFF WAS CONTINUED & THE PLT CIRCLED THE ARPT FOR 2 HRS TO BURN OFF EXCESS FUEL BEFORE PERFORMING A LDG WITH THE NOSE GEAR & THE LEFT MAIN LDG GEAR RETRACTED. THE RIGHT LDG GEAR WAS BROKEN AS A RESULT OF THE COLLISION WITH THE DOG.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,875 hours in all; 181 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 1,710 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 736 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1985; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CAE
- Destination: GMU Greenvile SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 11, 8,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 am from CAE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.