Beech C-23 accident near Dalton, Georgia, March 28, 1992
On March 28, 1992 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Beech C-23, registered N6003Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dalton, Georgia (Dalton Municipal 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 INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR GUSTING WINDS WHILE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF WHICH RESULTED IN A LOST OF CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS GUSTING QUARTERING TAIL WINDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 1992 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Dalton, Georgia · Dalton Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C-23 · all C-23s on the register
- Registration
- N6003Z · registry record · serial M2118
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF, AT APPROXIMATELY 12 MPH, AND APPROACHING THE RUNUP AREA, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ROLLED DOWN A 30 FOOT RAVINE. REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT WAS BRAKING TO SLOW THE AIRPLANE WHEN THE RIGHT WHEEL LOCKED. EXAMINATION OF THE TAXIWAY DISCLOSED LATERAL RIGHT TIRE MARKS, BUT THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF BRAKING UNTIL THE AIRPLANE ROLLED OFF THE TAXIWAY INTO THE GRASSY AREA. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORTED WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS FROM THE LEFT REAR QUARTER OF THE TAXIING AIRPLANE. ANOTHER AIRPLANE TAXIING BEHIND THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE DID NOT REPORT EXPERIENCING CONTROL DIFFICULTY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE ALSO FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL PROBLEM WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED NORMAL OPERATION.
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: 185 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 146 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,020 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1991; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,455 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: DNN
- Destination: HDI Cleveland TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 11 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 pm from DNN, 1 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.