Beech 400 accident near Rome, Georgia, December 11, 1991
On December 11, 1991 at about 2:41 pm local time, a Beech 400, registered N25BR, was destroyed in an accident near Rome, Georgia. It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 9 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE CAPTAIN'S DECISION TO INITIATE VISUAL FLIGHT INTO AN AREA OF KNOWN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND LOW CEILINGS AND THE FAILURE OF THE FLIGHTCREW TO MAINTAIN AWARENESS OF THEIR PROXIMITY TO THE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 11, 1991 · about 2:41 pm local time
- Place
- Rome, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 9 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 400 · all 400s on the register
- Registration
- N25BR · registry record · serial RJ-57
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE TAKEOFF, AN IFR FLT PLAN WAS FILED FOR A 15 MIN FLT FROM ROME, GA, TO HUNTSVILLE, AL. TAKEOFF WAS COMMENCED AT 0937 EST WITH THE COPLT FLYING THE ACFT. AFTER A VFR TAKEOFF, THE CAPT CONTACTED ATLANTA CENTER TO OBTAIN AN IFR CLNC. THE CONTROLLER ADVISED THAT OTHER TRAFFIC WAS IN THE AREA & INSTRUCTED THE FLT TO REMAIN VFR (WHILE AN IFR CLNC WAS BEING ARRANGED). AT THAT TIME, THE FLT RPRTD AT 1300' IN VFR CONDS. WHILE WAITING FOR AN IFR CLNC, THE CREW BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT HIGHER TERRAIN & LOW CEILINGS. AT ABOUT 0940, THE CAPT DIRECTED THE COPLT TO FLY 'BACK TO THE RIGHT.' APRX 1 MIN LATER, THE CVR STOPPED RECORDING & RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST WITH THE ACFT. LATER, THE ACFT WAS FOUND WHERE IT HAD COLLIDED WITH THE TOP OF MT LAVENDAR. ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS APRX 1580' MSL. THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A GROUND PROXIMITY WARNING SYS. (FOR DETAILS SEE: SUMMARY REPORT)
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,000 hours in all; 600 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 17, 1991; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 15,780 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JT15D-5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Bruno'S INC
The flight
- Departed from: RMG Rome GA
- Destination: HSV Huntsville AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 7 |
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.