Beech A-23-24 accident near Meldrim, Georgia, October 11, 1986
On October 11, 1986 at about 5:30 am local time, a Beech A-23-24, registered N60BL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Meldrim, Georgia (Savannah 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
- October 11, 1986 · about 5:30 am local time
- Place
- Meldrim, Georgia · Savannah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A-23-24 · all A-23-24s on the register
- Registration
- N60BL · registry record · serial MA241
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FLIGHT PLANNED A TOTAL TIME ENROUTE OF 2HRS. 45 MIN. THE AIRCRAFT FUEL ENDURANCE WAS FOUR HOURS. THE PILOT USED ABOUT 1 HR. 15 MIN. ATTEMPTING TO COMPLETE AN INSTRUMENT PROCEDURE. SAV WAS VFR THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FLIGHT AND PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT HAD PERFORMED ERRATICALLY THROUGHOUT THE FLT, BY NOT MAINTAINING ASSIGNED HEADINGS AND TRACKING ENROUTE TO SAVANNAH. THIS BEHAVIOR WAS ALSO DISPLAYED DURING THE CONDUCT OF THE APPROACH PROCEDURE. THE ENG LOST POWER DURING THE APPROACH AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE DURING THE FORCED LNDG. POST ACCIDENT EXAM REVEALED THAT THE ACFT HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 646 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 532 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1986; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Elizabeth City NC at 1:00 am
- Destination: SAV Savannah GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27, 9,003 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 040° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 am from SAV, 10 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.