Piper PA-38-112 N4218E

Summary

On 31 March 1993 at about 01:23 local time, a Piper PA-38-112 registered N4218E, operated by Tomahawk Flyers Inc.,, was involved in an accident near Kennesaw, Georgia, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 March 1993 at 01:23

Classification

Accident

Location

Kennesaw, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

McCollum Field (RYY)

Coordinates

34.0201, -84.6100

Aircraft

Piper PA-38-112

Registration

N4218E

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Tomahawk Flyers Inc.,

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ATL93FA066

2 people died.

FAILURE OF THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) TO ASSURE THAT A PROPER RATE OF CLIMB WAS ESTABLISHED AFTER TAKEOFF TO MAINTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE ABOVE THE TERRAIN/OBSTACLES. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND THE EXCESSIVE WEIGHT CONDITION OF THE AIRPLANE AT TAKEOFF.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A STUDENT PILOT & CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WERE ON A NIGHT TRAINING FLIGHT, PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS. ACCORDING TO TWO WITNESSES AT THE AIRPORT, THE FLIGHT TOUCHED DOWN NORMALLY & BEGAN TO TAKEOFF AGAIN. THEY REPORTED THE INITIAL CLIMB APPEARED NORMAL UNTIL THE AIRPLANE LEVELED OFF ABOUT 150 TO 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THEY CONTINUED TO WATCH THE AIRPLANE UNTIL IT COLLIDED WITH TREES & A UTILITY POLE ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 27. THE AIRPLANE THEN FELL INTO THE FRONT YARD OF A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING. REPORTEDLY, THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL UNTIL THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR COMPONENT FAILURE. A REVIEW OF WEIGHT & BALANCE INFORMATION DISCLOSED THE AIRPLANE WAS LOADED ABOUT 100 POUNDS OVER ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT LIMIT, WHEN IT TOOK OFF ABOUT 23 MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE CFI HAD A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF ABOUT 375 HOURS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.