# NTSB ATL89FA139: Beech B24R, N2526W, Suches, GA, April 29, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 29, 1989, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place: Suches, GA
- Coordinates: 34.729305, -84.059822 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7293&lon=-84.0598&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7889
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89FA139
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7889/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89FA139

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE ABOVE THE WOODED TERRAIN.  THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITION, HIGH TERRAIN, AND TREES WERE RELATED FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT HAD RECEIVED HIS PVT CERTIFICATE 3 DAYS BEFORE THE ACDNT.  ABOUT 1 HR AFTER RECEIVING A WX BRIEFING, HE TOOK OFF FROM HAMPTON, GA, ON A FLT TO DAHLONEGA, GA.  SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES & CRASHED ABOUT 2 MI NW OF THE DESTN ARPT.  THE ACDNT SITE WAS ON THE EAST SLOPE OF A MTN.  THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT IMPACT OCCURRED WHILE THE ACFT WAS IN LEVEL FLT.  WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED OVER A 225' AREA.  FRESHLY BROKEN LIMBS WITH PROP SLASH MARKS WERE FND WHERE THE ACFT INITIALLY IMPACTED TREES.  NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. RPRTDLY, MARGINAL WX CONDITIONS EXISTED WITH LOW CEILINGS & REDUCED VISIBILITY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2526W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2526W-1993-04-26), registration cancelled 1993-04-26, S/N MC200 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B24R
- Registry model: [Beech B24R](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b24r) (registry code 1151253) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: MC-200
- Airframe hours: 1236
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Johnny H. Ward
- Registered owner: Johnny H Ward
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1988, 83 hours before
- Departed: 4A7, HAMPTON, GA
- Destination: 9A0, DAHLONEGA, GA
- Airport: 9A0, Lumpkin-Wimpy, runway 15, 3,000 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 93 total, 29 in this make and model, 19 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 8 knots
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FTY

## 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 19890429010329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890429010329A), Apr 29, 1989: Beech B24R, Dahlonega, GA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Flew into trees on a mountainside. Witness reported low clouds, fog in area. Was trying to locate airport.

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.

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