Hamilton T-28R-2 accident near Martinez, Georgia, July 2, 1983
On July 2, 1983 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Hamilton T-28R-2, registered N182U, was destroyed in an accident near Martinez, Georgia (Flying J airport). 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
- July 2, 1983 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Martinez, Georgia · Flying J · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hamilton T-28R-2
- Registration
- N182U · registry record · serial 9
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS 1 OF 2 THAT MADE A LOW PASS OVER RWY 24. AFTER THE PASS, THE PLT MADE A RIGHT TURN, ESTABLISHING THE ACFT IN A RIGHT TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR RWY 24. ACCORDING TO 1 WITNESS, WHILE THE ACFT WAS TURNING ON A RIGHT BASE, INTERMITTENT BURSTS OF DARK SMOKE WERE OBSERVED TRAILING FROM THE ACFT. HE SAID THAT WHEN THE ACFT TURNED ONTO FINAL APCH, THE SMOKE TRAILS BECAME MORE DESTINCT & NUMEROUS. THE ENG THEN BEGAN CUTTING OUT & MISFIRING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT TURNED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT & COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE, THEN IT HIT TREES, CRASHED & BURNED. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THE ACCESORY CASE WAS TOTALLY DESTORYED & THE BLOWER CASE HAD MELTED TO THE POINT THAT THE BLOWER WAS EXPOSED. EXCESSIVE HEAT DAMAGE & DISCOLORATION WERE NOTED AT THE MAIN BEARING AREA OF THE MASTER ROD & THE #7 & &8 ARTICULATING ROD BEARINGS. ALSO, RUST & THE LACK OF OIL RESIDUE WAS NOTED IN THESE AREAS. EXTENSIVE FIRE & IMPACT DAMAGE DISRUPTED ENG CONTINUITY & PREVENTED ROTATION OF THE MAJOR MOVING PARTS. TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 92 & 70 DEG.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 10, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 7,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright R-1800-56-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Thompson GA at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,806 ft by 40 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from AGS, 15 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.