Piper PA46 accident near Chamblee, Georgia, September 14, 2009
On September 14, 2009, a Piper PA46, registered N664RS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Chamblee, Georgia (Dekalb-Peachtree airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing. Contributing to the accident was pilot fatigue.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 2009
- Place
- Chamblee, Georgia · Dekalb-Peachtree · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA46 350P · all PA46s on the register
- Registration
- N664RS · registry record · serial 4636313
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After having trouble maintaining altitude and aligning the airplane with the localizer, the pilot conducted a visual approach for Runway 20L. The aircraft touched down and continued off the end of the runway, striking localizer equipment and substantially damaging the left wing. No mechanical malfunctions were reported by the pilot or identified postaccident. The recorded winds on the field were calm approximately 15 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot reported that he had been ill for several days prior to the accident, and postaccident medical testing revealed that he was dehydrated due to the illness. Additionally, the pilot reported that he did not eat anything on the day of the accident. The pilot was airborne for approximately 8 hours, including fuel stops and periods of maneuvering due to weather. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot held a third-class medical certificate with a limitation for his diabetic condition.
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
What happened, in order
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Personnel issues › Physical › Alertness/Fatigue › (general) › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,648 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 3,648 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 11, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,224 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PHT Paris TN at 10:00 pm
- Destination: PDK Chamblee GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 20L, 6,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KPDK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.