Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Blairsville, Georgia, November 20, 1992
On November 20, 1992 at about 7:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N7684J, was destroyed in an accident near Blairsville, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH HIGH TERRAIN. FACTORS WERE HIGH WIND AND RAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 1992 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Blairsville, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7684J · no longer on the register · serial 28R-31085
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT RECEIVED THREE WEATHER BRIEFINGS AT VARIOUS POINTS THROUGHOUT THE PREFLIGHT, FLIGHT AND PRIOR TO THE FINAL DEPARTURE FROM ANDREWS, NORTH CAROLINA. EACH BRIEFING NOTED INSTRUMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS ALONG THE PILOT'S ROUTE OF FLIGHT. ADDITIONALLY, THE PILOT REQUESTED AND WAS GIVEN A RADAR ASSIST INTO ANDREWS MURPHY AIRPORT, FROM ATLANTA CENTER, ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. AFTER REFUELING WITH 16 GALLONS OF AVIATION FUEL, THE PILOT DEPARTED ANDREWS MURPHY AIRPORT AND CLIMBED TO ABOUT 6600 FEET. ATLANTA CENTER RADAR RECORDED AN AIRBORNE TARGET CIRCLING IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE AT 6600 FEET. HIKERS ON THE APPALACHIAN TRAILS RECALLED HEARING AN AIRPLANE IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE AT THE APPROXIMATE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THEY ALSO REPORTED THAT FORWARD VISIBILITY WAS REDUCED TO ABOUT 50 YARDS WITH MODERATE RAIN. A FOREST RANGER REPORTED THAT WINDS WERE GUSTING TO ABOUT 45 MPH. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE DISCOVERED DURING THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 475 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,896 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 23, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 6A3 Andrews NC at 8:15 pm
- Destination: OCF Ocala FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 16 knots, gusting 45
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from ATL, 75 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.
Other NTSB records under N7684J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.