Beech A23A accident near Cumming, Georgia, October 18, 1992
On October 18, 1992 at about 8:35 pm local time, a Beech A23A, registered N3690Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cumming, Georgia (Mathis airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE THE FUEL BOOST PUMP WHEN THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED DURING TAKE OFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 18, 1992 · about 8:35 pm local time
- Place
- Cumming, Georgia · Mathis
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23A · all A23As on the register
- Registration
- N3690Q · no longer on the register · serial M1058
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKE OFF, AT ABOUT 300 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER & LOSE POWER, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT. HE LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN A FIELD WHERE IT COLLIDED WITH BRUSH & THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THERE WAS FUEL BETWEEN THE BOOST PUMP & THE FUEL INJECTOR SERVO, BUT NO FUEL BETWEEN THE SERVO & THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR MANIFOLD. THE FUEL BOOST PUMP WAS EXAMINED & FOUND TO BE OPERATIONAL, AS WAS THE IGNITION SYSTEM. THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE IN THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK FOR THE AIRPLANE STATED THAT THE BOOST PUMP SHOULD BE TURNED ON IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION DURING TAKE OFF.
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: 290 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 290 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,840 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 1992; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-346A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 84A at 8:35 pm
- Destination: 84A
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 1,530 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:49 pm from PDK, 17 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.