Lumpkin County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dahlonega, Georgia 30533
Saturday, March 26, 1994 4:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING A NIGHT LANDING UNDER VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. HE STATED THAT HE DROPPED HIS FLASHLIGHT ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH, AND BENT DOWN TO PICK THE FLASHLIGHT UP. HE SAID THAT WHEN HE LOOKED UP, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE RUNWAY AND BOUNCED. THE PILOT LEFT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT AND RETURNED TO HIS HOME IN MARYLAND WITHOUT REPORTING THE ACCIDENT TO AUTHORITIES. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TERRAIN 40 FEET SHORT OF THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. THERE WERE SEVERAL EMPTY BEER CANS FOUND IN THE COCKPIT AREA OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND ONE FULL CAN OF BEER FOUND IN THE PILOT'S LUGGAGE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The poor in-flight decision by the pilot to divert his attention from the runway on short final in order to retrieve a flashlight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/26/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 430
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City DAHLONEGA
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30533
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LUMPKIN COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 9A0
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1311
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1100 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID ATL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1026
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 55
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 496
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 26 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 835
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:48AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9722Q
NTSB Number ATL94LA068
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model C23
Aircraft Series Identifier C23
Aircraft Serial Number M1304
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 17 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours 2200
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIR MOD INCORPORATED
Aircraft Owner Street Address 10116 DANGERFIELD RD.
Aircraft Owner City CLINTON
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 20735
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BOWLES, ALFRED E. JR.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1206 VAN BUREN DR.
Operator City FT. WASHINGTON
Operator State MD
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 20744
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 9A9
Departure City MARION
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1830
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --