Maxair 582 accident near Willacoochee, Georgia, March 16, 1992
On March 16, 1992 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Maxair 582, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willacoochee, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF FLIGHT CONTROL, AND AN INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 1992 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Willacoochee, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maxair 582, amateur-built
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND A FRIEND HAD PERFORMED MAINTENANCE ON THE AIRPLANE AND HAD COMPLETED AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF ENGINE RUNUPS AND HIGH SPEED TAXIING. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MAINTENANCE, ALL SYSTEMS WERE REPORTEDLY OPERATIONAL. DURING A HIGH SPEED TAXI THE PILOT LIFTED OFF AND CLIMBED OUT FROM THE PASTURE. THE FLIGHT APPEARED NORMAL UNTIL THE PILOT STARTED A CLIMBING TURN. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND CRASHED IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. ACCORDING TO THE WITNESS, ALSO AN ULTRALIGHT PILOT, NEITHER HE NOR THE OWNER WAS AWARE OF THE PILOT'S INTENTIONS TO FLY THE AIRPLANE. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT REGISTERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CURRENT FAR'S. THE TWO SEAT ULTRALIGHT- TYPE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE AN EXEMPTION TO FAR PART 103.
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
- Flight time: 800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from VDI, 30 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.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.