Piper PA 28R-200 accident near Senoia, Georgia, December 9, 1990
On December 9, 1990 at about 3:15 am local time, a Piper PA 28R-200, registered N5003T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Senoia, Georgia. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE DARK NIGHT OPERATION AND THE COLLISION WITH UTILITY LINES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 9, 1990 · about 3:15 am local time
- Place
- Senoia, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28R-200 · all PA 28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N5003T · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7235170
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT WAS WITHIN VISUAL RANGE OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT FOR THE SECOND TIME. SINCE HE WAS SHORT OF THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT ESTABLISHED AN APPROACH TO A STATE HIGHWAY FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH UTILITY LINES AND CRASHED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DISCLOSED THAT BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY. THE PILOT HAD NOT PLANNED A REFUELING STOP EN ROUTE. THERE WERE NO REPORTED MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.
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; 17 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 50 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Field Aircraft INC.
The flight
- Departed from: FPR Fort Pierce FL at 10:50 pm
- Destination: 2A9 Peachtree City GA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 330° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:56 am from ATL, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.