<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-05-010330
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20050215
<FILING-DATE>20050216
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20050216
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>AIRGATE PCS INC /DE/
<CIK>0001086844
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4813
<IRS-NUMBER>582422929
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0930
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>233 PEACHTREE ST NE
<STREET2>SUITE 1700
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30303
<PHONE>4045257272
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>233 PEACHTREE ST
<STREET2>SUITE 1700
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30303
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>RISNER JOHN W
<CIK>0001212777
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-27455
<FILM-NUMBER>05622064
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>7033905100
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>10700 PARKRIDGE BLVD.
<CITY>RESTON
<STATE>VA
<ZIP>20191
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c92299_02jwr.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-02-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001212777</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RISNER JOHN W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>AIRGATE PCS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>233 PEACHTREE STREET, NE, SUITE 1700</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30303</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Disposed of pursuant to merger agreement between issuer, Alamosa Holdings, Inc. and A-Co. Merger Sub, Inc. in exchange for $36.62 per share of AirGate common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Convertible into the issuer's common stock on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These Restricted Stock Units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) were scheduled to vest on April 8, 2005, subject to certain conditions as detailed in the AirGate PCS, Inc. Director Compensation Plan. On February 7, 2005, the Company's board of directors approved the full acceleration of vesting of these RSUs, effective immediately prior to the closing of the merger on February 15, 2005 between the issuer and A-Co. Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alamosa Holdings, Inc.  The RSUs were cancelled in the merger in exchange for a cash payment of $36,620.00, representing the number of RSUs times the average closing price of Alamosa common stock for the ten trading days prior to the merger multiplied by 2.87 ($36.62 per share).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">None.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John W. Risner</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
