Piper PA-28-140 accident near Stockbridge, Georgia, February 17, 1994
On February 17, 1994 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N98321, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stockbridge, Georgia (Berry Hill airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PARTIAL BLOCKAGE OF THE INDUCTION AIR FILTER BECAUSE OF WATER SOAKING, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND THE FAILURE OF MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO PROPERLY WASH THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 17, 1994 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Stockbridge, Georgia · Berry Hill · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N98321 · no longer on the register · serial 28-26169
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO 'MISS' AND LOSE POWER. AN APPLICATION OF CARB HEAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE ENGINE THEN DEVELOPED MORE POWER BEFORE LOSING POWER AGAIN. THE PILOT MANEUVERED TO AVOID TREES, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS FORCE LANDED IN A FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD, AND WAS STRUCTURALLY DAMAGED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE PAPER AIR FILTER ELEMENT SHOWED EVIDENCE OF WATER SOAKING. THE PILOT AND AIRCRAFT OWNER REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN WASHED WITH WATER JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,438 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 3,135 as pilot in command; 2,019 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 6, 1993; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 4A0
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 3,000 ft by 40 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from ATL, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.