Beech 55 accident near Savannah, Georgia, June 30, 1985
On June 30, 1985 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Beech 55, registered N2781F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Savannah, Georgia (Savannah airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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 30, 1985 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Savannah, Georgia · Savannah
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 55
- Registration
- N2781F · no longer on the register · serial TC1801
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE TAKING OFF, THE PLT CHECKED THE TRIM & THE AUTO-PLT. DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN, HE NOTED THAT THE 'AIRCRAFT FELT HEAVY ON ROTATION/TAKEOFF ABORTED.' THE ACFT CONTINUED OFF THE END OF THE RWY, HIT A MOUND OF DIRT & WAS DAMAGED. A POST-ACCIDENT EXAM REVEALED THAT BOTH THE AUTO-PLT & ELECTRICAL TRIM WERE ON & THE ELEVATOR TRIM WAS IN THE FULL NOSE DOWN TRIM POSITION. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR'S MANUAL, THE AUTO-PLT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE OFF POSITION FOR TAKEOFF. NOT ALL OF THE RWY WAS AVAILABLE FOR TAKEOFF; THE PLT HAD 3800 FT REMAINING FROM WHERE HE BEGAN HIS TAKEOFF ROLL.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 515 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 775 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAV at 2:15 pm
- Destination: Vidalia GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36, 3,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft; not recorded at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:28 pm from SAV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.