Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Darien, Georgia
Saturday, April 3, 1982 13:12 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT FILED A VFR FLIGHT PLAN, BUT DID NOT ACTIVATE IT AFTER TAKEOFF. WHILE EN ROUTE, HE ENCOUNTERED DETERIORATING WEATHER AND OBTAINED AN IFR CLEARANCE. AS HE CONTINUED, HE ENTERED AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS, TURBULENCE, AND HEAVY RAIN. AS THE PILOT WAS ABOUT TO DEPART THE AREA OF BAD WEATHER, THE AIRCRAFT TURNED NEARLY 180 DEGREES AND BEGAN HEADING TOWARD THE EDGE OF A THUNDERSTORM. THE PILOT WAS ADVISED OF HIS HEADING DEVIATION AND WAS PROVIDED A VECTOR AWAY FROM THE STORM AND BACK ON COURSE. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, TWO WITNESSES ON THE GROUND HEARD AN AIRCRAFT IN THE SAME AREA. THEY REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REVVING AS IF THE PLANE WAS DIVING UP AND DOWN. BOTH REPORTED THAT THE PLANE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS LEAVING THE AREA, THEN IT RETURNED AND CIRCLED BEFORE CRASHING. THE PLANE IMPACTED IN A RIGHT BANK, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. AFTER IMPACT, THE WRECKAGE SCATTERED OVER A 200 BY 400 FT AREA. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO PRECRASH FAILURES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/3/1982
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1312
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City DARIEN
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 931
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID SSI
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 80
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Heavy
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 FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 810
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4382W
NTSB Number ATL82FKG10
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model A36
Aircraft Series Identifier A36
Aircraft Serial Number 12532
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 31
Airframe Hours 1250
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name W F THOMPSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1410 HIGH STREET
Aircraft Owner City PALATHA
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32077
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name W F THOMPSON
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1410 HIGH STREET
Operator City PALATHA
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32077
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 NEW BERN
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 953
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City PALATHA
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --