Beech 35-B33 accident near Gainesville, Georgia, December 3, 2002
On December 3, 2002 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Beech 35-B33, registered N8578M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gainesville, Georgia (Lee Gilmer Memorial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of engine power for undetermined reason resulting in damage to the airplane during the subsequent forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 3, 2002 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Gainesville, Georgia · Lee Gilmer Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35-B33 · all 35-B33s on the register
- Registration
- N8578M · no longer on the register · serial CD-648
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the initial climb, the pilot reported the engine began making a "loud noise and lost power." The pilot attempted to return to the airport, but could not maintain altitude, and elected to perform a forced landing on a street. As the airplane approached the street it struck some wires, landed in the street, and struck several parked cars. After the accident the engine was test run, and no discrepancies were found during the engine run.
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: 2,800 hours in all; 1,700 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 2,800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 2, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,783 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 3, 2002; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-K3B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GVL Gainesville GA at 7:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 5,004 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from GVL, 2 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.