Beech S-35 accident near Carrollton, Georgia, October 22, 1993
On October 22, 1993 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Beech S-35, registered N8688Q, was destroyed in an accident near Carrollton, Georgia (West Georgia Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING A MISSED APPROACH WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW IFR PROCEDURES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 22, 1993 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Carrollton, Georgia · West Georgia Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech S-35 · all S-35s on the register
- Registration
- N8688Q · no longer on the register · serial D-7697
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT WAS ISSUED THE LOCAL WEATHER AND CLEARED FOR THE LOCALIZER APPROACH. THE PILOT WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT UNICOM FOR AIRPORT ADVISORIES; NO UNICOM RADIO CONTACT WAS ESTABLISHED. EYEWITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE AS IT DESCENDED OUT OF THE 400 FOOT CLOUD LAYER, ABOUT 3/4 DOWN THE RUNWAY, WITH THE AIRPLANE IN A LANDING CONFIGURATION (FLAPS AND LANDING GEAR EXTENDED). AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME TIME, THE PILOT REPORTED A MISSED APPROACH TO APPROACH CONTROL. THE PILOT WAS INSTRUCTED TO CLIMB TO 3000 FEET THEN TURN LEFT TO 280 DEGREES; THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE INSTRUCTIONS. EYEWITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE IN A LEFT CLIMBING TURN WHICH CONTINUED UNTIL IT STALLED. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE 1/4 MILE WEST OF THE AIRPORT. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL PROBLEM.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 400 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,891 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BUY Burlington NC at 5:47 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 34, 5,003 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from CTJ, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.