Beech C23 accident near Dahlonega, Georgia, March 26, 1994
On March 26, 1994 at about 9:30 am local time, a Beech C23, registered N9722Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dahlonega, Georgia (Lumpkin County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The poor in-flight decision by the pilot to divert his attention from the runway on short final in order to retrieve a flashlight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 1994 · about 9:30 am local time
- Place
- Dahlonega, Georgia · Lumpkin County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N9722Q · no longer on the register · serial M1304
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING A NIGHT LANDING UNDER VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. HE STATED THAT HE DROPPED HIS FLASHLIGHT ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH, AND BENT DOWN TO PICK THE FLASHLIGHT UP. HE SAID THAT WHEN HE LOOKED UP, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE RUNWAY AND BOUNCED. THE PILOT LEFT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT AND RETURNED TO HIS HOME IN MARYLAND WITHOUT REPORTING THE ACCIDENT TO AUTHORITIES. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TERRAIN 40 FEET SHORT OF THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. THERE WERE SEVERAL EMPTY BEER CANS FOUND IN THE COCKPIT AREA OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND ONE FULL CAN OF BEER FOUND IN THE PILOT'S LUGGAGE.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 218 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 17, 1994; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9A9 Marion NC at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from ATL, 55 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.