Savannah Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Meldrim, Georgia 31308
Saturday, October 11, 1986 1:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT FLIGHT PLANNED A TOTAL TIME ENROUTE OF 2HRS. 45 MIN. THE AIRCRAFT FUEL ENDURANCE WAS FOUR HOURS. THE PILOT USED ABOUT 1 HR. 15 MIN. ATTEMPTING TO COMPLETE AN INSTRUMENT PROCEDURE. SAV WAS VFR THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FLIGHT AND PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT HAD PERFORMED ERRATICALLY THROUGHOUT THE FLT, BY NOT MAINTAINING ASSIGNED HEADINGS AND TRACKING ENROUTE TO SAVANNAH. THIS BEHAVIOR WAS ALSO DISPLAYED DURING THE CONDUCT OF THE APPROACH PROCEDURE. THE ENG LOST POWER DURING THE APPROACH AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE DURING THE FORCED LNDG. POST ACCIDENT EXAM REVEALED THAT THE ACFT HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/11/1986
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 130
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MELDRIM
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31308
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SAVANNAH
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SAV
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 10
Degrees magnetic from airport 270
Airport Elevation 51
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2351 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID SAV
Elevation of weather observation facility 51
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 1300
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) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1792
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 11 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 215
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 32254
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N60BL
NTSB Number ATL87FA004
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model A-23-24
Aircraft Series Identifier A-23-24
Aircraft Serial Number MA241
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 Mar 1 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 61
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM LAZARUS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 13686 WHISPERING LAKE LANE
Aircraft Owner City PALM BEACH GDN
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33410
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name THOMAS B. POLANSKI
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 63 FAIRVIEW AVE.
Operator City WALLING FORD
Operator State CT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 06492
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
Departure City ELIZABETH CITY
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 2100
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SAV
Destination City SAVANNAH
Destination State GA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 9003
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --