Piper PA-28R-201 accident near Phenix City, Alabama, December 21, 1992
On December 21, 1992 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-201, registered N9319C, was destroyed in an accident near Phenix City, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOTS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 21, 1992 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Phenix City, Alabama
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201s on the register
- Registration
- N9319C · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7837190
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT OBTAINED HER INSTRUMENT RATING THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE FIRST INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM APPROACH INTO THE AIRPORT TERMINATED IN A MISSED APPROACH. WHEN GIVEN A FREQUENCY CHANGE, JUST PRIOR TO REACHING THE OUTER MARKER, SHE REPLIED THAT SHE WAS IN SERIOUS TROUBLE. THE AIRCRAFT DISAPPEARED FROM THE RADAR, AND NO FURTHER RADIO TRANSMISSION WERE MADE BY THE PILOT. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED OUT OF THE BASE OF THE CLOUDS IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, AND A STEEP LEFT BANK. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVALED NO MECHANICAL NOR INSTRUMENTATION MALFUNCTIONS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 273 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 210 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,719 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 12, 1992; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NEW New Orleans LA at 3:31 pm
- Destination: CSG Columbus GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from CSG, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.