# NTSB ATL84FA078: Beech BE-36, N4829M, St. Catherines, GA, December 28, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 28, 1983, 11:41 local (16:41 UTC)
- Place: St. Catherines, GA
- Coordinates: 31.799268, -81.420654 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7993&lon=-81.4207&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6244
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84FA078
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6244/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84FA078

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent

## Analysis

THE PLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING AT 1037 EST BEFORE DEPARTING ON AN IFR X-COUNTRY. AT 1051, A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING (#537) WAS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WX SVC. WHEN THE PLT REQUESTED AN IFR CLEARANCE AT 1107, HE WAS ADVISED OF THE FRONTAL ACTIVITY. ABOUT 3 MIN LATER, HE WAS BRIEFED ON THE WX WARNING, WHICH HE ACKNOWLEDGED. AT ABOUT 1138, THE PLT WAS ADVISED OF WX IN HIS VICINITY & ALONG HIS PLANNED ROUTE WHICH INCLUDED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE & MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN. BASED ON THIS INFO, THE PLT ELECTED TO DIVERT TO SAVANNAH, GA. AT 1139:54, HE REPORTED HIS WX CONDITIONS WERE ROUGH WITH RAIN. AT 1141:11, THE CONTROLLER NOTED THAT HIS TRANSPONDER REPLY SHOWED 2600 FT INSTEAD OF THE ASSIGNED ALT OF 7000 FT. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, RADIO & RADAR CONTACT WERE LOST. THE ACFT WAS PRESUMED TO HAVE CRASHED AT SEA & BOTH PLTS WERE PRESUMED TO HAVE BEEN FATALLY INJURED. A SEARCH OF THE SUSPECTED AREA WAS MADE BY THE COAST GUARD & DEBRIS SUSPECTED FROM THE ACFT WAS FOUND; HOWEVER, THE MAIN WRECKAGE WAS NOT RECOVERED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4829M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4829M-1989-08-28), registration cancelled 1989-08-28, S/N E1272 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH BE-36
- Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E-1272
- Airframe hours: 1300
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520BA 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: David M. Trombley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ST. AUGUSTINE, FL
- Destination: W36, CHESAPEAKE, VA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,875 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAV

## 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 19831228064309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831228064309A), Dec 28, 1983: Beech 36BEECH, St Catherines, GA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft flew into area of a thunderstorm and disappeared from radar.

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.