DAHLONEGA, GA, USA
N9722Q
BEECH C23
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING A NIGHT LANDING UNDER VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. HE STATED THAT HE DROPPED HIS FLASHLIGHT ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH, AND BENT DOWN TO PICK THE FLASHLIGHT UP. HE SAID THAT WHEN HE LOOKED UP, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE RUNWAY AND BOUNCED. THE PILOT LEFT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT AND RETURNED TO HIS HOME IN MARYLAND WITHOUT REPORTING THE ACCIDENT TO AUTHORITIES. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TERRAIN 40 FEET SHORT OF THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. THERE WERE SEVERAL EMPTY BEER CANS FOUND IN THE COCKPIT AREA OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND ONE FULL CAN OF BEER FOUND IN THE PILOT'S LUGGAGE.
On March 26, 1994, about 0430 eastern standard time, a Beech C23, N9722Q, was substantially damaged following a collision with terrain during landing at Dahlonega, Georgia. Neither the private pilot nor his passenger were injured in the accident. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight. The flight departed Marion, North Carolina about 1630. According to residents living near the airport, a loud bang was heard at the airport around 0430. The airport manager reported finding the aircraft near the approach end of Runway 33 when he arrived for work about 0800. The pilot departed the area and returned to his home in Maryland without contacting or reporting the accident to any official in the Georgia area. In his report of the accident, the pilot stated that on short final approach he dropped his flashlight. As he looked up after retrieving the flashlight, the airplane collided with the runway, and bounced out of control. There were several empty beer cans found in the cabin area of the aircraft, and one full beer can found in the baggage near the aircraft.
The poor in-flight decision by the pilot to divert his attention from the runway on short final in order to retrieve a flashlight.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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