Beech A-36 accident near Commerce, Georgia, October 20, 1984
On October 20, 1984 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Beech A-36, registered N6316C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Commerce, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were 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
- October 20, 1984 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Commerce, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A-36 · all A-36s on the register
- Registration
- N6316C · registry record · serial E-2023
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER CLIMBING TO 8,000 FT THE PLT NOTICED FUEL SIPHONING OUT OF THE LEFT FUEL TANK CAP. FOR THE NEXT HOUR & 20 MIN THE FLT OPERATED ON THE LEFT TANK IN AN EFFORT TO USE FUEL FROM THE LEFT TANK BEFORE IT WAS SIPHONED OUT. APRX 6 MILES NORTH OF ATHENS, GA, THE ENG LOST POWER AND THE PLT REQUESTED CLEARANCE FROM ARTCC FOR AN EMERG LANDING AT ATHENS. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, ADJUSTING THE MIXTURE CAUSED THE ENG TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. ARTCC WAS ADVISED AND THE PLT CONTINUED EN ROUTE. ABOUT 24 MILES FURTHER NORTH THE ENG AGAIN LOST POWER. THE INTENTIONAL GEAR-UP LANDING WAS MADE IN AN UNIMPROVED PASTURE. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE LEFT CAP. NO FUEL REMAINED IN THE LEFT TANK. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND DURING A SUCCESSFUL TEST RUN OF THE ENG.
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: 807 hours in all; 510 in this make and model; 105 in the last 90 days; 612 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 992 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 6, 1984; 125 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hangar One, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: TPA Tampa FL at 11:15 am
- Destination: TYS Knoxville TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from AHN, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.