Piper PA-28 accident near Elberton, Georgia, July 15, 1987
On July 15, 1987 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N5502F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elberton, Georgia (Elbert County-Patz Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 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
- July 15, 1987 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elberton, Georgia · Elbert County-Patz Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N5502F · no longer on the register · serial 28-24840
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT NOTED A PROGRESSIVE LOSS OF PWR THAT BEGAN DRG THE CLIMB TO CRUISE. HE DIVERTED BACK TOWARD THE DEP ARPT & ATMTDTO RESTORE PWR BY ACTIVATING THE BOOST PUMP, MOVING THE MIXTURE TO FULL RICH, SWITCHING FUEL TANKS & APPLYING CARB HEAT.HOWEVER, THE ENG CONTD TO LOSE PWR. AS HE MANEUVERED THE ACFT ONTO A SHORT FINAL APCH, THE ENG LOST ALL PWR & THE ACFT CRASH LNDD SHORT OF THE RWY IN A SWAMP. A POST-CRASH EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE. SVRL OUNCES OF WATER & SEDIMENT WERE FND IN THE CARB BOWL; HOWEVER, DRG THE CRASH &/OR RECOVERY OF THE ACFT, THE FUEL LINES BROKE & THE ENG BECAME NEARLY COMPLETELY SUBMERGED IN WATER. SVRL SPARK PLUGS WERE SLIGHTLY FOULED WITH BLACK, SOOTY CARBON DEPOSITS. THE ACFT WAS STC'D TO OPER ON AUTO-FUEL & WAS SVCD WITH 89 OCTANE REGULAR FUEL. THE CARB WAS EQUIPPED WITH A COMPOSITE FLOAT, WHICH HAD EVIDENCE OF MINOR DETERIORATION; HOWEVER, DRG A FLOW CHECK, THE CARB FUNCTIONED PROPERLY.
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: 100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,301 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 13, 1987; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: DNL Augusta GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 3,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:48 pm from AHN, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.