Beech BE-55 accident near Winder, Georgia, September 6, 2003
On September 6, 2003 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Beech BE-55, registered N62JF, was destroyed in an accident near Winder, Georgia (Winder-Barrow airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight preparation in which he failed to secure the cabin door which diverted his attention and resulted in the failure to maintain directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2003 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Winder, Georgia · Winder-Barrow · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-55
- Registration
- N62JF · registry record · serial TC706
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A pilot who was holding short for takeoff on runway 5 behind the accident airplane stated the accident airplane became airborne just past taxiway "C" intersection. The airplane reached about 10 feet when the nose dropped down abruptly to the right, the airplane collided with the runway, and bounced back into the air. The pilot observed a dark shape on the right side of the airplane and concluded the accident airplane cabin door had opened. The accident airplane was observed to make a shallow crosswind turn to the left, nose high, at a slow airspeed. The pilot stated he called the accident pilot on the airplane radio and asked if he was ok. The accident pilot stated he had problems and was going to make an emergency landing followed by, " I am not going to make it." A witness on the ground stated he observed the airplane make a steep left bank estimated between 40 to 45 degree angle of bank. The airplane collided with a tree, rolled to the left, pitched nose down, hit a power line and collided with the ground. A post crash fire ensued. Examination of the crash site revealed the airplane collided with a tree and the ground. The cabin door lock was not locked. The right propeller blade tips were curled aft and all three-propeller blades on the left engine sustained minimal impact damage. No anomalies were noted with the left and right engine assembly.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 220 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 14, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: WDR Winder GA at 9:19 pm
- Destination: LZU Lawrenceville GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 3,610 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 6:16 pm from WDR, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N62JF the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.