Beech D45(T34B) accident near Rome, Georgia, June 8, 1986
On June 8, 1986 at about 4:42 pm local time, a Beech D45(T34B), registered N544E, was destroyed in an accident near Rome, Georgia (Russell airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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 8, 1986 · about 4:42 pm local time
- Place
- Rome, Georgia · Russell · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D45(T34B) · all D45(T34B)s on the register
- Registration
- N544E · no longer on the register · serial BG-281
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
JUST BEFORE TAKEOFF, A RAIN SHOWER WAS OBSERVED APPROACHING THE ARPT. THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE A MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE TAKEOFF. RPRTDLY, AFTER LIFT-OFF. SHE INITIATED A CLIMB AT 70 KTS & RAISED THE FLAPS. THE PLT REPORTED BEGINNING A SHALLOW TURN AT APRX 200 FT AGL. SHE STATED THAT WITHOUT ANY INPUT, THE GENTLE BANK BECAME STEEPER. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ACFT HAD LEVELED OFF, THEN NOSED UP AGAIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT CONTD TO THE RIGHT ABOUT 70 DEG, STALLED & CRASHED INTO TREES. THE BACK SEAT OCCUPANT STATED THAT THE STALL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED DURING THE THE OCCURRENCE. ACCORDING TO THE FLT MANUAL, THE ACFT SHOULD BE ACCELERATED TO 100 KTS PRIOR TO RETRACTING THE FLAPS AFTER OBSTACLE CLEARANCE.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 844 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 631 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,298 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 17, 1986; 89 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,985 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-4-3 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Nas Atlanta Flying Club
The flight
- Destination: FTY Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:48 pm from CHA, 41 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.
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.