Beech BE-36 accident near Dahlonega, Georgia, May 23, 2005
On May 23, 2005 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Beech BE-36, registered N17836, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dahlonega, Georgia (Lumpkin County-Wimpys airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's mismanagment of the fuel supply which resulted in fuel starvation and subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 2005 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Dahlonega, Georgia · Lumpkin County-Wimpys · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-36
- Registration
- N17836 · registry record · serial E-1041
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he prepared his airplane for a short cross-country flight. After the preflight he departed the Gainesville Airport and climbed to 3000 feet. Upon arrival at his destination airport he turned downwind and then base to set up for his final approach for landing. As the pilot adjusted the power setting the manifold pressure began to drop. The pilot switched the fuel selector from the right fuel tank to the left fuel tank, and the manifold pressure continued to drop and the engine lost power. The pilot made an off field forced landing on a road. During the landing roll out the right wing struck a tree. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed the outboard section of the right wing was broken off of the airframe. The nose of the airplane was buckled downward and aft, and the nose gear was separated from the airframe. The left wing assembly was buckled. Examination of the right fuel tank revealed that it had less than a quart of fuel. The left fuel tank had approximately 12 gallons of fuel. According to the pilot, "a possible miscalculation of remaining fuel in the right tank, and more attention to fuel management may have prevented the emergency landing". Review of the pilot operating handbook: Before Landing checklist item #2 states: Fuel Selector Valve-SELECT FULLER TANK (feel for detent).
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 758 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 700 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,074 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2005; 1,158 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO 520 BA12 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: F & W Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: GVL Gainesville GA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: 9A0 Dahlonega GA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 16 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from GVL, 20 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL05CA087.