Beech D45 accident near Bainbridge, Georgia, August 2, 2006
On August 2, 2006 at about 12:47 pm local time, a Beech D45, registered N342MN, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bainbridge, Georgia (Decatur Co Industrial Air Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper maintenance installation of the fuel inlet line by other maintenance personnel resulting in a partial loss of engine power after takeoff due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2006 · about 12:47 pm local time
- Place
- Bainbridge, Georgia · Decatur Co Industrial Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D45 · all D45s on the register
- Registration
- N342MN · no longer on the register · serial BG-180
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was on initial climb from runway 27, at 50 feet and 80 knots, when the engine started a "popping" noise and the engine had a partial loss of power. The pilot turned the boost pump on, the "popping" noise continued, and he made a right turn towards runway 14. The airspeed decreased to between 58 to 60 knots. The airplane stalled, collided with the ground, and a post crash fire ensued. The Beech Model D45 Flight Manual states the airplane will stall at 71 mph with a 0-degree angle of bank, and at 73 mph with a 20-degree angle of bank. The right main fuel tank was consumed by fire. Fuel samples were taken from the header tank and the left wing fuel tank. The samples were forwarded to a petroleum laboratory for further analysis. Examination of the fuel samples revealed the fuel would not have caused a loss of engine power or malfunction. Review of the engine logbook revealed the engine was overhauled on May 30, 2006, and the engine has been operated for 15 hours since it was reinstalled on the airplane. Examination of the engine revealed the fuel inlet (unmetered pressure) line was crossed with the fuel return (to fuel pump) line on the engine fuel pump. The fuel lines were repositioned and an engine run was initiated. The engine started and ran smoothly at 1,000 rpm. The rpm was increased to 2,200 rpm with no anomalies. The engine was not increased to full operating rpm due to damage to the airframe. The engine was shut down with the mixture control.
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: 814 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 784 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,519 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: KBGE Bainbridge GA at 12:45 pm
- Destination: KBGE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 12:39 pm from KBGE
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.
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.