Beech 77 accident near Dawson, Georgia, July 23, 1999
On July 23, 1999 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Beech 77, registered N38482, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dawson, Georgia (Dawson airport). It was a business 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 loss of engine power due to fuel starvation that resulted from a blocked fuel line check valve.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1999 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dawson, Georgia · Dawson
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 77 · all 77s on the register
- Registration
- N38482 · no longer on the register · serial WA-245
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Approximately one hour and forty-five minutes into flight, the pilot initiated an enroute descent from 4500 feet to 2500 feet. The pilot stated that during the descent the engine lost power. Several attempts by the pilot to restart engine power failed. The pilot selected an open field for an emergency landing. The airplane flipped over following the touchdown. Examination of the airplane disclosed that approximately 13 gallons of fuel were recovered from the right fuel tank. No fuel was recovered from the left fuel tank. According to the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH), the fuel selector has only two positions, on and off. The POH also showed that the fuel system has two in-line check valves to prevent fuel movement between tanks. According to the operator, he had experience check valve failure on several occasions in other Beech 77 type airplanes. Both check valves were removed from the fuel system. Examination of the right check valve disclosed that it was blocked.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,359 hours in all; 186 in this make and model; 192 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days; 1,275 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,435 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 17, 1999; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PDK Dekalb-Peachtre GA at 1:45 pm
- Destination: 16J GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 pm from ABY, 20 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.