North American NA219 (T28B) accident near Luthersville, Georgia, March 30, 1986
On March 30, 1986 at about 8:30 pm local time, a North American NA219 (T28B), registered N544E, was destroyed in an accident near Luthersville, Georgia (Flying N 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
- March 30, 1986 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Luthersville, Georgia · Flying N · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American NA219 (T28B) NA219 (T28
- Registration
- N544E · no longer on the register · serial (140007)2196
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO CLIMB STRAIGHT OUT TOAN ALT OF ABOUT 500-700 FT. IT THEN TURNED TO A NORTHERLY HEADING. AFTER A SHORT TIME ON THE NORTHERLY HDG, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO INITIATED A LEFT AILERON OR BARREL ROLL, DISHOUT AND END UP ON AN EASTERLY HDG IN A STEEP DIVE. THE ACFT WENT FROM SIGHT OF THESE WITNESSES BEHIND THE TREE LINE STILL IN A DIVE. THEY STATED THAT THE ROLL MANEUVER WAS INITIATED AT A HEIGHT OF 500-700 FT. WITNESSES AT THE CRASH SITE STATED THAT THEY FIRST SAW THE AIRCRAFT AT A LOW ALT IN A DESCENT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING 'REAL LOUD'. IT STRUCK TREES AND A UTILITY POLE AND PARTS STARTED COMING OFF. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE PROFESSIONAL AIR CARRIER AIR CREW EMPLOYEES. AND IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHICH OCCUPANT WAS THE SOLE MANIPULATOR OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE.
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: commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 100 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, August 30, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 8,094 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright R-1820-86 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: IGA2 Luthersville GA at 8:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:48 pm from ATL, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N544E the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.