Beech A36 accident near Hinesville, Georgia, February 9, 2007
On February 9, 2007 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N506BC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hinesville, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control resulting in the in-flight breakup of the airplane due to aerodynamic overload. Contributing to the accident were airframe icing and the pilot's impairment by illegal drugs.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 9, 2007 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Hinesville, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N506BC · registry record · serial E-1024
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instrument-rated private pilot filed an instrument-flight-rules flight plan and advised the controller that he was operating under visual-flight-rules flight at 9,500 feet. The controller cleared the pilot to descend and maintain 9,000 feet. Shortly thereafter, the pilot requested clearance to climb to 11,000 feet. The controller advised the pilot that there were reports of icing between 12,000 and 16,000 feet. The pilot advised that he would be "on top of it." The pilot requested clearance to climb to 13,000 feet. Shortly thereafter, the pilot advised he was "experiencing some precipitation" and requested clearance to descend to 11,000 feet. Analysis conducted by Safety Board meteorology specialists indicates that the airplane likely encountered freezing rain or drizzle that would have resulted in moderate to severe mixed icing adhering to its airframe. As the airplane descended in a right turn, it disappeared from radar. The airplane broke up in flight and impacted heavily wooded terrain. Marijuana was found at the scene, and post-accident toxicological testing performed on specimens from the pilot was consistent with the use of marijuana within 3 hours of the accident.
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: 320 hours in all; 240 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,530.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 25, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 2,725 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Blue Heron Aviation Sales LLC
The flight
- Departed from: TIX Titusville FL at 9:44 pm
- Destination: AND Anderson SC
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 330° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 11:10 pm from KLHW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.