Piper PA-32-260 accident near Moultrie, Georgia, December 12, 1987
On December 12, 1987 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N3632W, was destroyed in an accident near Moultrie, Georgia (Moultrie airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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
- December 12, 1987 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Moultrie, Georgia · Moultrie · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3632W · no longer on the register · serial 32-534
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ON A PERSONAL VFR FLT WITH HIS WIFE AND SON. DURING THE COURSE OF THE FLT, HE ENTERED DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS. HE WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE SCATTERED RAIN SHOWERS AHEAD. HE CONTINUED ON HIS TRACK AND ADVISED APCH CONTROL THAT HE HAD LOST CONTACT WITH THE GROUND AND THOUGHT HE HAD BETTER TURN BACK UNLESS HE BROKE OUT SHORTLY. APCH CONTROL OBSERVED THE RADAR RETURN BEGIN A RIGHT TURN AND THE PLT'S TRANSMISSION WAS CUT OFF DURING THE TURN. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AT 2,500 FEET AND THE ACFT WRECKAGE WAS FOUND SCATTERED OVER ALMOST 1,000 FEET. THE ACFT HAD BROKEN UP IN FLIGHT.
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: 393 hours in all; 335 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,043 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 2, 1987; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M40 Aberdeen MS at 3:35 pm
- Destination: DAB Daytona Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,800 ft; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from VLD, 30 miles away
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.