# NTSB ATL84AA053: Beech A36, N3801N, Armuchee, GA, November 28, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: November 27, 1983, 22:35 local (Nov 28, 1983, 03:35 UTC)
- Place: Armuchee, GA
- Coordinates: 34.469928, -85.20951 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4699&lon=-85.2095&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6224
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84AA053
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6224/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84AA053

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - minimum descent altitude - below, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND HIGHER TERRAIN WHICH WAS ADJACENT TO THE VOR APPROACH PATH. THE WEATHER WAS DESCRIBED BY WITNESSES AS STORMY WITH HEAVY RAINS AND HIGH WINDS. SOME OF THE OCCUPANTS OF THE ACCIDENT ACFT WERE AIRSICK ACCORDING TO THE PLTS RADIO REPORT. THE ACFT WAS CLEARED FOR THE VOR APPROACH. HE WAS TOLD TO MAINTAIN 4000 FT MSL UNTILINBOUND ON TRACK AND THEN DESCEND TO 3200 FT. THE PLT ACKNOWLEDGED. LATER THE PLT REPORTED THE INITIAL APPROACH FIX. ABOUT ONE MINUTE LATER APPROACH LOST RADAR CONTACT. WHEN LAST IN RADAR CONTACT HE WAS OUT OF 2700 FT AND 'RIGHT ON THE APPROACH'. THE ACFT HIT THE WEST SLOPE OF ST. JOHN'S MT AT ABOUT 1560 FT MSL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3801N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3801N-2013-05-06), registration cancelled 2013-05-06, S/N E-1777, built 1980 (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: E-1777
- Airframe hours: 782
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BB 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: F. J. Wyatt And Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 12, 1983, 141 hours before
- Departed: DKX, KNOXVILLE, TN
- Destination: RMG, ROME, GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: RMG, Richard B. Russell, runway 18, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,435 total, 600 in this make and model, 1,300 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark

## 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 19831127060089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831127060089A), Nov 27, 1983: Beech A36, Armuchee, GA, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Struck trees on a night VOR approach. Heavy rain and high winds in area. Radar not showing weather severity.

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.