Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Gainesville, Georgia, July 25, 1997
On July 25, 1997 at about 10:44 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N8473P, was destroyed in an accident near Gainesville, Georgia (Lee Gilmer Memorial airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). Factors relating to the accident were: the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing, and obstructions (trees and building) that were encountered during the emergency landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 1997 · about 10:44 pm local time
- Place
- Gainesville, Georgia · Lee Gilmer Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8473P · no longer on the register · serial 32R-8229015
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses said they observed takeoffs & landings being performed. Pilot(s) of the accident airplane (N8473P), turned off runway 22 after landing & taxied back to the approach end to take off again. As N8473P was taking off, the pilot of an arriving airplane ask about N8473P's location. Pilot(s) of N8473P replied that they were on the takeoff roll. During initial climb after lift-off, they transmitted 'give us some room to turn this thing around.' N8473P was observed to climb to about 100 ft agl, bank sharply left, then roll to a wings level attitude. Witnesses then lost sight N8473P due to obstructions. Smoke was observed, & 911 was called to report the accident. Witnesses said the landing gear was retracted when N8473P began banking left. Investigation revealed N8473P first contacted the tops of two 25 feet-tall trees, then it collided with a walkway canopy. Fire destroyed most of the right wing, the cockpit & cabin, & slight fire damage was noted to the left wing. Fire damage & browning of grass were noted forward of the right wing. No chemical or fire damage was noted to plants forward & beneath the initial impact point with the left wing inboard fuel tank, & no hydraulic rupture to the left wing fuel tanks was noted. An exam of the engine, flight controls, & airframe revealed no evidence of preimpact malfunction or failure. The fuel selector components had impact damage, & the fuel selector was found positioned about 15 deg to the right of the 'left' fuel tank position.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,885 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 5, 1997; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: GVL at 10:43 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 4,999 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from GVL
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.