Beech 36 accident near Tybee Island, Georgia, February 19, 2001
On February 19, 2001 at about 1:17 am local time, a Beech 36, registered N7703R, was destroyed in an accident near Tybee Island, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flights entry into a descending right turn for undetermined reasons resulting in the flight crashing into the ocean.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 19, 2001 · about 1:17 am local time
- Place
- Tybee Island, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 36 · all 36s on the register
- Registration
- N7703R · no longer on the register · serial E-119
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While in cruise flight at 5,500 feet,, over the ocean, on a dark night, about 10 miles from shore, the airplane entered a descending right turn and was lost from radar at 4,300 feet. No communications reporting any problems with the flight were received by air traffic controllers. Seat cushions, an interior panel, and the nose landing gear lower strut, wheel, and tire, along with some remains of the occupants were located floating on the ocean. The main wreckage of the airplane and the occupants were not located.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 875 hours in all; 800 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,670 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 16, 2001; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Cont IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OMN Ormond Beach FL
- Destination: MCZ Williamston NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.42 inHg
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.