Beech 58 accident near Demorest, Georgia, March 9, 1990
On March 9, 1990 at about 5:52 pm local time, a Beech 58, registered N7233R, was destroyed in an accident near Demorest, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHILE IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE, LACK OF RECENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, AND THE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 1990 · about 5:52 pm local time
- Place
- Demorest, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N7233R · no longer on the register · serial TH-1482
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF INTO INSTRUMENT METEROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AFTER CLIMBING TO 6,000 FT, THE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO CONTINUE HIS CLIMB TO 7,000 FT AND TURN RIGHT TO 180 DEG. RADAR DATA SHOWED THAT THE AIRPLANE TURNED LEFT TO 220 DEG, AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AT 6,9OO FT. A WITNESS REPORTED SEEING THE AIRPLANE APPEAR OUT OF THE CLOUD BASE IN A HIGH SPEED DIVE. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED 5 MI N OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. PILOT HAD EARLIER ATTEMPTED BFR ON 2/7; CFI DID NOT FEEL PILOT WAS COMPETENT, AND PILOT RESCHEDULED FOR 2/14. AFTER FLIGHT OF 2/14 CFI INFORMED PILOT THAT INSTRUMENT FLYING WAS POOR, AND WAS RESCHEDULED FOR 3/28. PILOT CAUTIONED NOT TO FLY IN IMC UNTIL BFR COMPLETED. CFI STATED THAT HE HAD OBSERVED A DETERIORATION OF THE PILOT'S SKILLS OVER THE YEARS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,911 hours in all; 1,546 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,668 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 626 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 8, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AJR Cornelia GA at 5:42 pm
- Destination: MCO Orlando FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; scat at 300 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from AHN, 33 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.