Beech A36 accident near Macon, Georgia, April 22, 1989
On April 22, 1989 at about 4:48 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N6613A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Macon, Georgia (Lewis B. Wilson airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION WHEN THE IMMINENT LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER WAS OBSERVED. ADDITIONALLY, THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO EXECUTE THE APPROPRIATE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE AND MANUALLY LOWER THE LANDING GEAR, RESULTED IN ITS COLLAPSE UPON LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING THE POWER SOURCE FOR THE AIRPLANE INSTRUMENTATION. WHEN CONFRONTED WITH THE ZERO OIL PRESSURE INDICATION THE PILOT'S SELF INDUCED PRESSURE PRECIPITATED AN UNNECESSARY HURRIED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 1989 · about 4:48 pm local time
- Place
- Macon, Georgia · Lewis B. Wilson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N6613A · registry record · serial E-2070
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PIC NOTED AMMETER INDICATED DISCHARGE DURING FLT. HE DECLINED TO DIVERT & LAND TO ASSESS MALFUNCTION UNTIL TOTAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER. LDG GEAR EXTENDED NORMALLY AT BEGINNING OF DESCENT FROM 6000 FT. USING HAND HELD RADIO PIC ASKED TWR CONTROLLER TO EXAMINE LDG GEAR WHO RPTED IT WAS DOWN. MANUAL EXTENSION WAS NOT DONE IAW FLIGHT MANUAL EMER PROCEDURES. AFTER FLY BY OIL PRESS GAGE WENT TO ZERO. PIC DECIDED TO LAND IMMEDIATELY, NOSE & RT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED ON TOUCHDOWN.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,251 hours in all; 481 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,209 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,210 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 309 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-540-BB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GNV Gainesville FL at 3:26 pm
- Destination: ATL Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 5, 6,501 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from MCN, 1 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.