Piper PA-32-300 accident near Toccoa, Georgia, March 27, 1987
On March 27, 1987 at about 2:15 am local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N3042U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Toccoa, Georgia (Toccoa airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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
- March 27, 1987 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Toccoa, Georgia · Toccoa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N3042U · registry record · serial 32-7940078
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OVERSHOT RUNWAY 20 AND SKIDDED OFF THE DEPARTURE END WHICH CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE DESCENDED TO THE NORMAL VISUAL TRAFFIC PATTERN ALTITUDE BEFORE ATTEMPTING A LANDING. THERE WERE NO REPORTED AIRCRAFT OR AIRPORT SYSTEM PROBLEMS. AIRPORT OFFICIALS REPORTED THAT AIRCRAFT TIRE MARKS WERE ABOUT 1000 FEET FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE BLACK TIRE MARKS TRAILED TO THE POINT WHERE THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 248 hours in all; 81 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 175 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 18, 1986; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K165 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ASH Ashevile NC at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 20, 4,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Observation at 8:52 pm from GMU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.