Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Darien, Georgia, March 21, 1987
On March 21, 1987 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N2948R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Darien, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- March 21, 1987 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Darien, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N2948R · no longer on the register · serial 28R35342
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING NORMAL CRUISE FLIGHT AT 6,000' THE PLT REPORTED HEARING A LOUD BANG SIMULTANEOUS WITH A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PLT DECLARED MAYDAY AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN SMALL PINE TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED CYL.#2 CONNECTING ROD HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE CRANK SHAFT AND SUBSEQUENTLY PUNCTURED THE CRANKCASE. EXAMINATION OF THE CONNECTING ROD BOLTS INDICATED ONE BOLT FAILED DUE TO TENSILE OVERSTRESS. THE BOLTS HAD BEEN REPLACED AT OVERHAUL, 1,460 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,906 hours in all; 684 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 1,679 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,157 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 19, 1987; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CHS Charleston SC at 4:05 pm
- Destination: COI Merritt Island FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.