Piper PA-28-180 accident near Hampton, Georgia, February 23, 1987
On February 23, 1987 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N7681W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hampton, Georgia (Bear Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- February 23, 1987 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hampton, Georgia · Bear Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7681W · no longer on the register · serial 28-1669
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT A GUSTING X-WIND EXISTED DURING THE APPROACH TO LAND. WHEN HE REDUCED PWR FOR TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT PITCHED NOSE DOWN, BEGAN A RAPID SINK AND LANDED HARD. THE PLT NOTED THAT HE HAD THE YOKE FULL BACK BUT WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE SINK RATE. HE STATED THAT THE AIRSPEED WAS 'NORMAL' OVER THE THRESHOLD, AND THAT THE ACFT DID NOT STALL.
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: 235 hours in all; 229 in this make and model; 229 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,545 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 18, 1987; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,375 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from ATL, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.