Herbert Smart Downtown Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Macon, Georgia 31210
Saturday, January 8, 2000 14:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During climbout, the engine was heard sputtering. The airplane collided with 100-foot trees and subsequently the ground. Two young eyewitnesses located adjacent to the accident site, reported that approximately five seconds after the airplane collided with the ground, it burst into flames. The subsequent wreckage examination showed that the accessory section of the engine assembly had melted and was fire damaged. The airframe and engine examinations failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure. Weather conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was conditions favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/8/2000
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MACON
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31210
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport HERBERT SMART DOWNTOWN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MAC
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 360
Airport Elevation 463
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1453 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MCN
Elevation of weather observation facility 354
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 950
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 632
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 8 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1555
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2001 4:04AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2336Z
NTSB Number ATL00FA023
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model 23
Aircraft Series Identifier 23
Aircraft Serial Number M-39
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 16 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOSEPH D. PETTY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5420 ARKWRIGHT ROAD
Aircraft Owner City MACON
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 31210
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MAC
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1443
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2001 4:04AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 10
Runway Length 4695
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --