Piper PA-60-601P N83AT
21 June 1989 · Lithia Springs, Georgia, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 21 June 1989 at about 12:23 local time, a Piper PA-60-601P registered N83AT, operated by Aero Star Transport Corp, was involved in an accident near Lithia Springs, Georgia, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 12:23
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Lithia Springs, Georgia, United States
- Coordinates
- 33.7408, -84.7396
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-60-601P
- Registration
- N83AT
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Aero Star Transport Corp
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Atlanta → Memphis
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL89FA166
People
3 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
INFLIGHT ENGINE/WING FIRE DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE RIGHT ENGINE'S LEFT EXHAUST TAILPIPE. THE EXHAUST TAILPIPE FAILED IN FATIGUE AS A RESULT OF FLUCTUATING STRESSES INDUCED BY A DETERIORATED ENGINE MOUNT IN CONJUNCTION WITH UNEVENLY DISTRIBUTED CLAMPING LOADS CAUSED BY AN IMPROPERLY SEATED GASKET.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
ELEVEN MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE THE PILOT REPORTED SMOKE AND A RIGHT ENGINE PROBLEM, THEN SAID 'GOING DOWN'. RIGHT WING AND ENGINE ASSEMBLIES SEPARATED IN FLIGHT. FIRE DAMAGE VICINITY OF RIGHT ENGINE LEFT TURBOCHARGER; TAILPIPE ASSEMBLY HAD SEPARATED. HEAVY SMOKE & HEAT DAMAGE BETWEEN RIGHT WING FORWARD & AFT WING SPARS. TAILPIPE HAD FAILED IN FATIGUE NEAR FLANGE WHERE ATTACHED TO TURBOCHARGER EXHAUST PORT. EVIDENCE OF NON-UNIFORMLY SEATED GASKET BETWEEN FLANGES. ALSO, RIGHT ENGINE LOWER LEFT ENGINE MOUNT DETERIORATED; SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF RUBBER MISSING. PIPER SB #818 (AD87-07-09) ACCOMPLISHED 5/21/88; REQUIRES REMOVAL & INSPECTION OF EXHAUST SYSTEM FOR CRACKS AND REINSTALLATION WITH NEW FLANGE GASKETS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-60 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Mar 1989 | Piper PA-60-601P | Lakeview, Oregon, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 21 Dec 1989 | Piper PA-60-602P | Frenchtown, New Jersey, United States | Walter V. Wicker, JR | Fatal | 1 |
| 31 Mar 1989 | Piper PA-60-601P | Newport Beach, California, United States | Anthony Deis | Fatal | 5 |
| 23 Jun 1989 | Piper PA-60-700P | Griffith, Indiana, United States | CAS, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Aug 1988 | Piper PA-60 | Pembroke Pines, Florida, United States | Phillips, Lewis | Fatal | 3 |
| 14 Sep 1988 | Piper PA-60-602P | Hopkinsville, Kentucky, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jun 1989 | Cessna 172 | Franklin, Georgia, United States | Dale Spangler | Minor injuries | - |
| 26 Jun 1989 | Boeing 737-291 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 6 Aug 1989 | Cessna 177B | Fort Gaines, Georgia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Aug 1989 | Piper PA-38-112 | Gainesville, Georgia, United States | Belle Isle Int'l Acft Sales | No injuries | - |
| 10 Sep 1989 | Aeronca 7AC | Screven, Georgia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Sep 1989 | Sikorsky H-34J | Louisville, Georgia, United States | Clifton D. McGowan | No injuries | - |