Plane Crash Reports 2003

2003 Plane Crash Report Result

Title: PA-32-300, N32038, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY A COMMERCIAL PIL

Report Date: 05/16

Plane Crash Problem: On May 5, 2003, at 1330 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N32038, registered to and operated by a commercial pilot, collided with trees on Horn Mountain near, Calhoun, Georgia. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. The nearest weather reporting facility reported visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the pilot and pilot rated passenger were fatally injured. The flight departed Campbell County Airport, Jacksboro, Tennessee, on May 5, 2003, at 1200 central daylight time. According to the occupant's family members, the airplane departed Jacksboro, Tennessee, on a cross-country flight to Rome, Georgia. The pilot had flown the intended route of flight on the previous day. After family members did not hear from the pilot the next day, they became concerned and contacted the local authorities. The Civil Air Patrol initiated an air search on May 5, 2003, but postponed it due to inclement weather conditions. On May 8, 2003, the air search commenced, and at 1945, air spotters located the wreckage site of the downed airplane. The air spotters circle the site until the ground crews arrived. At 2330, the ground crews made a positive identification of the downed airplane. The wreckage was found on a 180-degree magnetic heading. The wreckage was dispersed approximately 100 yards though a densely wooded area. There were freshly broken trees throughout the wreckage path. The right wing tip was located at the base of a tree at the beginning of the wreckage path. Approximately 25 feet forward of the right wing tip a four-foot section of the right wing leading edge was located. The main fuselage was located approximately 50 feet from the inboard section of the right wing. The main fuselage rested inverted in a tree. The cabin section of the airplane was in a tree 15 feet above the ground, and the tail section rested at the base of the tree. The left inboard section of the wing was broken off at the wing root. The wreckage examination found that the horizontal and vertical stabilizers were attached to the airframe. A five-foot section of the left outboard wing was located on the ground15 feet forward the fuselage. The engine was located approximately 50 feet forward the main fuselage. The propeller blades were attached to the engine, and displayed bending and chord-wise scoring. All flight control surfaces were located at the wreckage site.

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