Lockheed L-18 accident near Millhaven, Georgia, June 23, 1983
On June 23, 1983 at about 5:57 am local time, a Lockheed L-18, registered N333FB, was destroyed in an accident near Millhaven, Georgia. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91, subpart F). 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
- June 23, 1983 · about 5:57 am local time
- Place
- Millhaven, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lockheed L-18
- Registration
- N333FB · no longer on the register · serial 2467
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91, subpart F)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING AN ATTEMPTED OFF ARPT LANDING AT NIGHT FOR MARIJUANA UNLOADING. THE ACFT WAS BEING FOLLOWED BY A U.S CUSTOMS HELICOPTER, THE OCCUPANTS OF THIS HELICOPTER SAID THE ACFT HAD MADE ONE MISSED APPROACH AND DURING THE GO-AROUND ON THE DOWNWIND LEG THE ACFT DESCENDED UNTIL IT HIT THE TREES. THERE WAS A LAYER OF'SCUD'AT ABOUT 100-200 FT AGL. VISIBILITY UNDER THE LOW LYING INTERMITTANT CLOUD LAYER WAS ABOUT 2 MILES. AFTER THE CRASH THE HELICOPTER LANDED ABOUT 30 YARDS AWAY BUT APPROACH ON FOOT WAS NOT POSSIBLE DUE TO HEAT FROM THE BURNING WRECKAGE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 18,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright R-1820-76D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 040° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,500 ft; scat at 400 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:42 am from SAV, 55 miles away
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.