Piper PA-32-300 accident near Atlanta, Georgia, December 25, 1993
On December 25, 1993 at about 7:16 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N2872D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Atlanta, Georgia (Fulton County-Brown Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO APPLY POWER AFTER THE AIRSPEED DECREASE JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN AND ALSO FAILURE TO RECOVER FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IN-FLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH WIND GUSTS WHILE ON APPROACH TO LAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 25, 1993 · about 7:16 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Fulton County-Brown Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N2872D · registry record · serial 32-7940167
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEVIATED DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER AND WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING ON RUNWAY 26 AT THE ALTERNATE AIRPORT, THE PILOT ADVISED HE HAD ATIS INFORMATION 'INDIA.' THE WINDS WERE FROM 280 DEGREES AT 11 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 18 KNOTS. THE FLIGHT WAS CLEARED TO LAND AND THE PILOT WAS ADVISED BY THE CONTROLLER THAT THE WIND WAS FROM 290 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS. THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AND STATED THAT JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRSPEED DECREASED 10 KNOTS. THE AIRPLANE THEN LANDED HARD ON THE NOSE LANDING GEAR AND BEGAN TO PORPOISE. THE PILOT DID NOT APPLY POWER TO GO-AROUND AND THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED ON THE SECOND TOUCHDOWN.
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
- Flight time: 377 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 345 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,040 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 1993; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPA Spartanburg SC at 4:47 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 26, 5,796 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:47 pm from FTY, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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 N2872D 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.