Piper PA-23-160 accident near Stockbridge, Georgia, August 31, 1991
On August 31, 1991 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-160, registered N44PG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stockbridge, Georgia (Berry Hill airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED AFTER EXPERIENCING A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE, LOOSE CARBURETORS, ANNUAL INSPECTION NOT PERFORMED, AND PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 1991 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Stockbridge, Georgia · Berry Hill · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-160 · all PA-23-160s on the register
- Registration
- N44PG · registry record · serial 23-1996
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CLIMBOUT ON A GO AROUND, THE PILOT REPORTED A REDUCTION IN RIGHT ENGINE POWER. REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT MAINTAINED A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE UNTIL THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND CRASHED IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE ADJACENT TO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME. WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT BOTH CARBURETORS WERE LEAKING AIR BETWEEN THE CARBURETOR BOWLS AND THROTTLE BODIES. A WITNESS REPORTED REDUCED POWER, BUT THE ENGINES CONTINUED TO OPERATE. THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN ONLY 2 HOURS SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION ON JUNE 20, 1990. THE PILOT COMPLETED A BFR 60 MONTHS 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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 430 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 390 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,136 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 20, 1990; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B3B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm 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.