Beech 76 accident near Savannah, Georgia, December 16, 1992
On December 16, 1992 at about 7:05 am local time, a Beech 76, registered N38037, was substantially damaged in an accident near Savannah, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR PREFLIGHT AND INFLIGHT PLANNING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 16, 1992 · about 7:05 am local time
- Place
- Savannah, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 76 · all 76s on the register
- Registration
- N38037 · no longer on the register · serial ME-383
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED ALLEGHENY AIRPORT AT 2035 EASTERN STANDARD TIME. THE PILOT RECEIVED A FULL WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO THE DEPARTURE, WHICH INCLUDED A WINDS ALOFT FORECAST. HE STATED THAT HE ESTIMATED THE FUEL ON BOARD WOULD BE SUFFICIENT FOR SIX HOURS OF FLIGHT. THE PILOTS OPERATING HANDBOOK FOR THE AIRCRAFT SHOWS THE ENDURANCE FOR THE AIRCRAFT, AT THE ALTITUDE AND POWER SETTINGS USED, TO BE FIVE HOURS AND THIRTY MINUTES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXTREMELY LOW ON FUEL PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND THAT BOTH ENGINES LOST POWER PRIOR TO THE EMERGENCY LANDING ATTEMPT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT 0205 EASTERN STANDARD TIME.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 102 in this make and model; 71 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 1,007 as pilot in command; 376 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,198 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 7, 1992; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1G6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Marshall Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: AGC Pittsburg PA at 1:35 am
- Destination: BQK Brunswick GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:05 am from SAV, 3 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.