Rusty Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Woolsey, Georgia 30214
Thursday, March 29, 2007 15:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, while in cruise flight at 2,500, feet he felt a "thump" and observed black smoke or soot on the outer third of the aileron. He made an emergency descent to a landing at a private airport. Examination of the right wing found extensive fire damage concentrated in the center of the wing, with ballooning of the wing skin, and soot trailing over the right aileron. The source of fuel/fuel vapor, or the ignition source that started the fire could not be identified due to the extent of the fire damage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

In-flight fire of the right wing for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/29/2007
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1550
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Woolsey
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30214
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 331934N
Event Location Longitude 0842442W
Event Location Airport Rusty Airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3RU
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 810
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID FFC
Elevation of weather observation facility 808
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.19
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24123
NTSB Notification Source FAA Com Center
NTSB Notification Date Mar 29 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 28 2008 3:01PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Atlanta FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1MQ
NTSB Number ATL07LA065
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire In-flight
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model BE-58
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number TH-731
Certified Max Gross Weight 5400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 150
Airframe Hours 5270
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Airway Partners LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 218 Business Center Dr.
Aircraft Owner City Stockbridge
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30281
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Richard B. Handley
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 442 E. McIntosh Rd
Operator City Griffin
Operator State GA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 30223
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 RYY
Departure City Marietta
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 6A2
Destination City Griffin
Destination State GA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 14 2008 12:42PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 090
Runway Length 2750
Runway Width 120
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --