Piper PA-28-140 accident near Young Harris, Georgia, April 12, 1992
On April 12, 1992, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N7248J, was destroyed in an accident near Young Harris, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM TERRAIN. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE DARK NIGHT, RAIN, AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 1992
- Place
- Young Harris, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N7248J · no longer on the register · serial 28-24590
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES STATED THAT THEY OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT CIRCLING IN THE VALLEYS OF THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN FOR ABOUT TEN MINUETS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THEY SAID IT WAS A VERY DARK NIGHT AND LIGHT RAIN WAS FALLING IN THE AREA. THE VISIBILITY WAS REPORTED BY THE WITNESSES TO BE GOOD. THE WITNESSES STATED, THAT AT THE TIME THEY OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT, THAT THEY COULD HEAR THE ENGINE RUNNING. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN AT THE TOP OF A RIDGE LINE. THERE WERE LARGE GRASS FIELDS LOCATED IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE RIDGE LINE, IN THE DIRECTION OF IMPACT.
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: 290 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- 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: I21 Indianapolis IN
- Destination: OPF Miami FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 12,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.