Piper PA-23-250 accident near Atlanta, Georgia, December 25, 1992
On December 25, 1992 at about 11:14 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N2603Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Atlanta, Georgia (Fulton County 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 CLEARANCE FROM APPROACH LIGHTS WHILE CONDUCTING A NIGHT LANDING. A FACTOR WAS A DARK NIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 25, 1992 · about 11:14 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Fulton County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N2603Z · registry record · serial 27-8154011
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S WIFE, WHO WAS SEATED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT DURING THE FLIGHT, EVERYTHING WAS OKAY AND THE PILOT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRPLANE. HOWEVER, AS THE FLIGHT ARRIVED INTO THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC AREA, THE PILOT EXPRESSED SOME CONFUSION ABOUT THE VISUAL TRAFFIC CLEARANCE TO LAND. AFTER A BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH THE CONTROLLER, THE PILOT ESTABLISHED A LEFT DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 08. THE PILOT FURTHER INQUIRED ABOUT THE RUNWAY LIGHTS AND WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WERE OPERATIONAL. AFTER SOME MANEUVERING, THE PILOT WAS ESTABLISHED ON A FINAL APPROACH FOR RUNWAY 08. ABOUT 800 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE APPROACH LIGHTS AND IMPACTED THE GROUND ABOUT 375 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME AND SUBSYSTEMS FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL PROBLEM.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 350 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 259 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,658 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AZE Hazlehurst GA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: FTY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 5,796 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 090° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:18 pm from FTY, 1 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.