Piper PA-46-350P N198PM

Summary

On 4 August 2000 at about 11:45 local time, a Piper PA-46-350P registered N198PM, operated by Stephen R. Patterson, was involved in an accident near Augusta, 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.

Date

4 August 2000 at 11:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Augusta, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Daniel Field (DNL)

Coordinates

33.4801, -82.0104

Aircraft

Piper PA-46-350P

Registration

N198PM

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Stephen R. Patterson

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Atlantic City

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL00FA075

3 people died.

Improper preflight planning/preparation by the pilot, which resulted in taking off with the airplane exceeding the weight and balance limitations. Factors to the accident were the improper loading of the airplane, taking off from a short, up sloping runway and the pilot's elevated glucose level.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witness's reported that the airplane took off from runway 05, which has an up slope of 1.2 degrees. The airplane was observed at approximately 10 feet above ground level, in a nose high attitude traveling parallel to the ground and not climbing. The airplane narrowly cleared a 6-foot fence off the departure end of runway 05. Shortly thereafter, the airplane impacted a utility pole, the roof of a bus stop, which was followed by a brick wall. At the time of the accident runway 23, which has a 1.2-degree down slope and has a clear-cut area on the departure end, was available for use. The basic empty weight for this airplane is 3,097 pounds; the useful load is 1,201.7 pounds. The actual load at the time of the accident was in excess of the useful load. There is no record of the pilot completing a weight and balance computation prior to take-off. The toxicology examinations were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, drugs and alcohol. The toxicology examination revealed that 1175(mg/dl) glucose was detected in the urine. Examination of the airplane and subsystems failed to disclose any mechanical or component failures.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.