-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 Vvtg4oGNEu7+C8IAyP88aQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001086844-04-000171.txt : 20041222
<SEC-HEADER>0001086844-04-000171.hdr.sgml : 20041222
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041222162218
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001086844-04-000171
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041221
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041222
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041222

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AIRGATE PCS INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001086844
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIO TELEPHONE) [4813]
		IRS NUMBER:				582422929
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		233 PEACHTREE ST NE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1700
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30303
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4045257272

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		233 PEACHTREE ST
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1700
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30303

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Crawford Johnny R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001309062

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27455
		FILM NUMBER:		041221128

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		404-525-7272

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AIRGATE PCS, INC.
		STREET 2:		233 PEACHTREE STREET NE SUITE 1700
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30303
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>crawford3_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-21</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001086844</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AIRGATE PCS INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PCSA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001309062</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Crawford Johnny R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>AIRGATE PCS INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>233 PEACHTREE STREET STE 1700</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30303</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Eng. &amp; Network Ops.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.93</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-04-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.10</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-12-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>800</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>233.30</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-12-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>400</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>183.75</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-11-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>341</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>70.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-07-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These Non-Qualified Stock Options and the Restricted Stock Units are granted pursuant to the terms of the AirGate PCS, Inc.
Amended and Restated 2002 Long Term Incentive Plan (the &quot;2002 LTIP&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These Non-Qualified Stock Options vest in the amount of 25% of the total grant on each anniversary of the grant date,
commencing on April 8, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These Non-Qualified Stock Options are granted pursuant to the terms of the AirGate PCS, Inc. 2002 Long Term Incentive Plan.
The options vest in the amount of 25% of the total grant on each anniversary of the grant date, commencing on December 17,
2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These Non-Qualified Stock Options are granted pursuant to the terms of the AirGate PCS, Inc. 2000 Amended and Restated Long
Term Incentive Plan. The options vest in the amount of 25% of the total grant on each anniversary of the grant date,
commencing on December 18, 2002.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">These Incentive Stock Options are granted pursuant to the terms of the AirGate PCS, Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan. All
these options have vested.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">These Restricted Stock Units vest on April 8, 2007, subject to the achievement of certain performance objectives as detailed
in the 2002 LTIP.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">None.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">1 for 1.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Johnny R Crawford</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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