Beech A23A accident near Roopville, Georgia, October 29, 1989
On October 29, 1989 at about 9:01 pm local time, a Beech A23A, registered N6929Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Roopville, Georgia (Blackwelder'S airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DISREGARD FOR A TAILWIND DURING LANDING, HIS DELAY IN EXECUTING A GO AROUND WHEN HE NOTED EXCESSIVE SPEED DURING THE LANDING ROLL, AND IMPROPER GO AROUND PROCEDURES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 29, 1989 · about 9:01 pm local time
- Place
- Roopville, Georgia · Blackwelder'S · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23A · all A23As on the register
- Registration
- N6929Q · no longer on the register · serial M-1069
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT IN VFR CONDITIONS AT A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP CONDUCTING LANDINGS FROM THE RIGHT SEAT IN PREPARATION FOR A FLIGHT IN THE AFTERNOON WITH HIS FATHER. PILOT STATED HE FELT AWKARD FLYING FROM RIGHT SEAT. HIS LEFT HAND WAS CLUMSY WITH ENGINE RPM AND AIR SPEED CONTROL. TWO VISUAL APPROACHES WERE MADE AND GO-AROUND INITIATED WHEN THE ACFT WAS NOT IN A SAFE POSITION TO LAND. PILOT CONSIDERED ALTERNATIVES, DECIDED NOT TO LET LITTLE TAILWIND DEFEAT HIM. THIRD APPROACH LANDING ROLL FAST. BRAKES NOT EFFECTIVE. PILOT SAW EMBANKMENT. ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND, AND ERRONEOUSLY RAISED THE FLAPS. STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED, AIRPLANE PITCHED NOSE DOWN, AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.
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
- Flight time: 162 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 128 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 228 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-346-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Roopville GA at 8:30 pm
- Destination: NONE Roopville GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,400 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.