Beech G-35 accident near Panacea, Florida, January 27, 1989
On January 27, 1989 at about 11:18 am local time, a Beech G-35, registered N4506D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Panacea, Florida (Wakulla County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOTS LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN ENTERING THE FOG BANK DURING THE TAKEOFF, DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 27, 1989 · about 11:18 am local time
- Place
- Panacea, Florida · Wakulla County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech G-35 · all G-35s on the register
- Registration
- N4506D · registry record · serial D-4669
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING. NO RECORD OF A BRIEFING WAS LOCATED. HE THEN STATED THAT HE DROVE THE SOD RUNWAY IN A CAR AND NOTED THE VISIBILITY TO BE ABOUT 1/2 MILE. DURING TAKEOFF HE STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A FOG BANK AT ABOUT 10 FT AND HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND CRASHED INTO TREES AT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 791 hours in all; 408 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 577 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,239 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1988; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,775 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2J0 Panacea FL at 11:18 am
- Destination: HEZ Natchez MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,900 ft by 175 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 12:02 pm from TLH, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.