Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 accident near Thomson, Georgia, May 2, 1982
On May 2, 1982 at about 2:17 pm local time, a Great Lakes 2T-1A-2, registered N3559L, was destroyed in an accident near Thomson, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 1982 · about 2:17 pm local time
- Place
- Thomson, Georgia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 · all 2T-1A-2s on the register
- Registration
- N3559L · no longer on the register · serial 0802
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT WHILE AEROBATICS WERE BEING PERFORMED. ONE WITNESS ESTIMATED THAT THE MANEUVERS WERE BEING FLOWN BETWEEN 100 AND 300 YARDS AGL. REPORTEDLY, THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN PERFORMING ROLLS, LOOPS AND SPINS FOR ABOUT 15 TO 30 MINUTES THE LAST MANEUVER WAS STARTED FROM A LOWER ALTITUDE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE CRASHED IN A NOSE-DOWN, INVERTED ATTITUDE WHILE IT WAS ROLLING OR TURNING. THE IMPACT POINT WAS IN A WOODED AREA AT THE EDGE OF A LAKE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,036 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 316 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,580 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-B1G6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: M.M.B. INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Thomson GA at 9:30 am
- Destination: Thomson GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 154°F (68°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.