Piper PA-28-161 accident near Conyers, Georgia, December 27, 1998
On December 27, 1998 at about 10:02 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N8253E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Conyers, Georgia (Whispering Pines airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to attempt a touch-and-go landing with insufficient runway remaining, and his failure to maintain adequate clearance from an object (tree).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 27, 1998 · about 10:02 pm local time
- Place
- Conyers, Georgia · Whispering Pines · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8253E · no longer on the register · serial 28-8216183
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While attempting to locate and land at Covington Airport, which has an east-west runway, the pilot lined up with the runway at Whispering Pines Airpark, a private airport. The pilot realized he was at the wrong airport, but continued the approach and performed a touch-and-go landing on the last half of the 2,600 foot runway. After takeoff, the pilot was unable to climb the aircraft fast enough to clear trees at the north end of the runway. The aircraft collided with the trees and descended to the ground. Airport representatives stated the normal operating method at the airport is to land to the north and takeoff to the south.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 122 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,301 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 20, 1998; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PDK Chamblee GA at 9:40 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 33, 2,600 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from PDK, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N8253E 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.