Beech D35 accident near Monroe, Georgia, December 9, 1987
On December 9, 1987 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Beech D35, registered N3441B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monroe, Georgia (Aerie airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- December 9, 1987 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Monroe, Georgia · Aerie · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D35 · all D35s on the register
- Registration
- N3441B · no longer on the register · serial D3679
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BEECH D35 WAS LANDING AT A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP FROM WHICH IT HAD DEPARTED FIFTEEN MINUTES EARLIER. THE FINAL APPROACH WAS TO THE SOUTH, INTO THE SUN. ON SHORT FINAL THE PILOT LOOKED DOWN TO VERIFY THAT THE GEAR WAS DOWN. HE LOOKED OUTSIDE AGAIN JUST IN TIME TO SEE A TRACTOR-TRAILER PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR IMPACTED THE TOP RIGHT FRONT CORNER OF THE TRAILER. THE ACFT ROTATED APPROXIMATELY 70 DEGREES PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. INVESTIGATION BY THE HIGHWAY PATROL REVEALED THAT VEHICLES TRAVELING IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION ON COUNTY ROAD 457 WERE HIDDEN BY TREES ON THE SIDE OF THE RAOD OPPOSITE THE AIRSTRIP. THE TRUCK DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 20,605 hours in all; 161 in this make and model; 155 in the last 90 days; 17,015 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 1987; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 2,000 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from FTY, 43 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.