Beech C23 accident near Atlanta, Georgia, July 31, 1983
On July 31, 1983 at about 4:12 am local time, a Beech C23, registered N6629J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Atlanta, Georgia (Fulton County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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 31, 1983 · about 4:12 am local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Fulton County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N6629J · no longer on the register · serial M-2185
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING ARRIVAL ON A DARK NIGHT, THE PLT FLEW PAST THE ARPT. AFTER RECEIVING A DF-STEER, HE OBSERVED THE ARPT ENVIRONMENT & DESCEND TO LAND ON RWY 8R. HIS INITIAL APPROACH WAS HIGH, SO HE CIRCLED AS HE DESCENDED TOWARD THE ARPT. REPORTEDLY, HE LOST SIGHT OF THE RWY & DID NOT REALIZE THAT HE WAS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE INTENDED LANDING AREA UNTIL REACHING A VERY LOW ALTITUDE. THE PLT INITIATED A GO-AROUND & RAISED THE FLAPS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN BESIDE RWY 14/32 WHILE ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING. THE IMPACT POINT WAS TO THE RIGHT OF RWY 8R. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE ACFT STALLED AFTER HE RAISED THE FLAPS. RWY 8R WAS LIGHTED AND RWYS 8L & 14/32 WERE UNLIGHTED.
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: 295 hours in all; 207 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 165 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,962 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 25, 1983; 104 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CHA Chattanooga TN at 3:30 am
- Destination: FTY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8R, 5,796 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 160° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:18 am from FTY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.