Beech A36 accident near Lafayette, Georgia, September 27, 1985
On September 27, 1985 at about 5:05 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N136BS, was destroyed in an accident near Lafayette, Georgia (Barwick-Lafayette airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- September 27, 1985 · about 5:05 pm local time
- Place
- Lafayette, Georgia · Barwick-Lafayette · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N136BS · no longer on the register · serial E-1725
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED IN A TRAILER PARKING LOT AFTER A STEEP LEFT TURN & UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE RT WING HAD STRUCK A PARKED TRAILER PRIOR TO THE NOSE STRIKING THE GROUND. THE ACC OCCURRED ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE APPROACH END OF RWY 02 AT BARWICK/LAFAYETTE ARPT. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED BY THE IMPACT & POST CRASH FIRE
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
- Flight time: 220 hours in all; 14 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 5, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Atlanta GA at 4:05 pm
- Destination: Chicago IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 5,400 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 028° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from CHA, 20 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.