What happened
On September 23, 2008, a Piper PA-32-300, registration N3029Y, crashed in a residential neighborhood approximately 1.75 miles north of the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK) in Atlanta, Georgia. The pilot, a commercial pilot with over 5,000 total flight hours, was the sole occupant of the aircraft and was fatally injured.
The pilot had arrived at PDK the previous day to complete a trade involving a Beechcraft Bonanza. After performing a pre-buy inspection on the Piper, the pilot prepared for departure to Coldwater, Michigan. At 1344, the pilot contacted ground control to request flight-following services for a northbound flight. After being cleared for takeoff from runway 2L, the aircraft became airborne at approximately 1353.
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot contacted the local controller to declare an emergency, stating, "I have an emergency... I need to land again." Following this transmission, the pilot did not respond to further inquiries from the tower. GPS data recovered from the wreckage showed that at 1354, the aircraft began a left turn while climbing through 1,500 feet. After reaching a maximum altitude of approximately 1,726 feet, the aircraft initiated a 180-degree left turn and began a rapid descent. The descent rate increased to approximately 2,600 feet per minute, and the aircraft struck trees and terrain at 1355.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found significant structural damage. The cockpit and cabin area suffered heavy crushing, and the aircraft came to rest inverted. The engine was found partially detached from the firewall, and the propeller blades showed various forms of impact damage, including one blade bent 90 degrees.
Engine analysis revealed that the engine was intact with no evidence of oil starvation. The fuel system, including the fuel servo and engine-driven pump, was found to be functioning with clean fuel present. While some exterior surfaces of the aircraft exhibited an oil coating, investigators determined this was a result of the impact sequence rather than a pre-existing leak.
Data recovered from a Garmin GPS unit provided a detailed track log of the flight. The data confirmed the aircraft's climb, the initiation of the left turn, and the subsequent high-rate descent into the terrain. No evidence was found of mechanical anomalies, such as loose panels or open doors, that could have contributed to the accident.