# NTSB ATL82FKG10: Beech A36, N4382W, Darien, GA, April 3, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: April 3, 1982, 13:12 local (18:12 UTC)
- Place: Darien, GA
- Location: 31.3435° N, 81.4241° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Darien, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3435&lon=-81.4241&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 3, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70406
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82FKG10
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70406/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82FKG10

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - wet
  - terrain condition - soft

## Analysis

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.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4382W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4382W-2012-11-21), registration cancelled 2012-11-21, S/N E-532, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12532
- Airframe hours: 1250
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 280 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: W F Thompson
- Registered owner: W F Thompson
- Departed: NEW BERN, NC
- Destination: PALATHA, FL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 70; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 2,000 total, 20 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 176 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SSI

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820403007709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820403007709A), Apr 3, 1982: Beech A36, Darien, GA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Low time instrument pilot lost control of aircraft in area of thunderstorm.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.