Piper PA 28-140 accident near Blythe, Georgia, December 30, 1991
On December 30, 1991 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA 28-140, registered N1733T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Blythe, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT DURING THE BEFORE TAKEOFF CHECK AS PART OF THE GROUND CHECK. A FACTOR WAS WEATHER CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 30, 1991 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Blythe, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28-140 · all PA 28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N1733T · no longer on the register · serial 28-7125053
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CLIMBOUT THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING IN A WOODED AREA. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE CUT OUT AS THE AIRPLANE FLEW OVER HIS LOCATION. SECONDS LATER THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN THE ADJACENT WOODS AND BURNED. EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE DISCLOSED PROPELLER SLASH MARKS ON FRESHLY CUT TREES ALONG THE WRECKAGE PATH. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION FAILED TO REVEAL A MECHANICAL COMPONENT FAILURE OR A SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WITH THE POWERPLANT OR AIRFRAME. HOWEVER, THE LOCAL WEATHER REPORT INDICATED CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMULATION OF CARBURETOR ICE. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S HANDBOOK, THE PILOT SHOULD CHECK THE CARBURETOR HEAT DURING THE GROUND CHECK TO ELIMINATE THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE DURING TAXI.
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: 130 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 12, 1992; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Blythe GA at 4:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:20 pm from AGS, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.